SUNDRE – MLA Jason Nixon has joined fellow area MLA Nathan Cooper in reiterating that any final decision on the creation of an Alberta pension plan (APP) would only come following a province-wide referendum.
“I’ve heard from many Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre residents who are interested in learning more about an Alberta pension plan,” Nixon, a Danielle Smith cabinet minister, told the Albertan.
“No changes will be made to Albertans’ pensions without Albertans making the final decision through a referendum.”
Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills UCP MLA Cooper said earlier this month, “I am very pleased that the premier and minister of finance released a report as a starting point for this discussion, but I am even more pleased that the government has committed to having Albertans make the final decision in the form of a referendum.”
The MLAs’ comment come as the government and the official Opposition launch competing surveys on the matter of a possible Alberta pension plan to replace the existing Canadian Pension Plan (CCP).
The government’s online survey asks for respondent input and comments on a variety of questions, including, “If Alberta switches to an Alberta pension plan from the Canada Pension Plan, how should the savings be used?” as well as “If the province of Alberta creates an Alberta pension plan, who should administer it?”
The survey does not ask respondents whether they support the creation of an APP.
The official Opposition’s survey asks one question: “Should Alberta leave the Canada Pension Plan?”
In a media release, the Opposition said more than 88 per cent of respondents have so far said no.
The province has announced plans to host several telephone town halls about the APP proposal starting this week.
