The province quietly released the results of a survey conducted to determine if Albertans want their own separate pension plan. Results from the survey show 63 per cent of respondents were opposed to the Alberta Pension Plan (APP). Danielle Smith has been tossing around the idea of a provincial pension plan since becoming premier in 2022, saying that the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) hasn’t been fair to Albertans. Despite the lack of favour for the APP, a statement from the province said they won’t be giving up on it just yet. “While recent surveys on an APP show public opinion may be shifting, we will continue to engage with Albertans on this topic through the Alberta Next panel,” said a statement from the Ministry of Treasury Board and Finance. “The Alberta Pension Protection Act guarantees we won’t replace the CPP with an APP unless Albertans approve it in a referendum.” Results from the survey show 10 per cent of respondents were pro-APP while 12 per cent were unsure. Fifteen per cent of the responses were incomplete. A February Leger poll showed only 55 per cent of Albertans opposed an APP, with 23 per cent in support — a decrease from the 63 per cent opposed in 2023 and 2024 polls. A Janet Brown Trend Research poll from May found only 45 per cent were opposed to an APP with 55 per cent of respondents in support.
