Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says “protecting the pensions of all Canadians” is a federal government priority ahead of convening a meeting Friday with her provincial and territorial counterparts to discuss Alberta potentially pulling out of the Canada Pension Plan. Alberta’s UCP has been mulling the idea of leaving the CPP and forming its own pension plan since 2020, with Premier Danielle Smith taking next steps to do so in recent months.
Now, Freeland is set to end her week with an 11 a.m. EDT virtual meeting with provincial and territorial finance ministers to discuss the “serious concerns” some provinces have raised. On Tuesday, Freeland’s office made public a letter she sent to her counterparts, stating in part that she’s heard from Canadians, including Albertans, about plans to withdraw from the fund.
“For six decades, the CPP has been the bedrock of a secure and dignified retirement for Canadians, very much including the people of Alberta,” Freeland said at a press conference Tuesday.
“The Alberta Federation of Labour has said that the proposed move to a provincial pension plan would be, quote, ‘truly scary for anyone contemplating a safe and stable retirement’,” she added. “Protecting the pensions of all Canadians is a priority for our government, and I look forward to an important conversation about this with my counterparts from across the country on Friday.”.. Source:ctvnews.ca/politics
Friday, April 17, 2026
