Canada Pension Plan report is out — but the big question remains unanswered
EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the province has heard back from Canada’s chief actuary on its bid to leave the Canada Pension Plan but says there’s no estimate on how much the province should get.
The province has been waiting for months for the review and a figure.
Smith said Thursday her government will follow up to get clarity on the next steps following an expected federal cabinet shuffle.
“We’re a bit disappointed, because we were under the impression that the chief actuary was hiring three different analysts to look at the legislation, to be able to get three very precise ways of looking at this issue, so that we had a precise number,” Smith said at an unrelated news conference in Calgary.
“Once things stabilize a bit in Ottawa, I’ll be asking my finance minister to follow up.”
Earlier Thursday, Justin Brattinga, press secretary to Finance Minister Nate Horner, said the report from the chief actuary included an interpretation of the legislation, but no number or even formula for calculating a number.
“We are still analyzing the report and will have more to say at a later date. We would not consider moving forward with a referendum on the issue until after we have a firm number to provide Albertans,” said Brattinga.
The federal Finance Department, in a statement, said that in November all provinces and territories were sent the report detailing the chief actuary’s “interpretation of the asset transfer provisions in the CPP legislation if a province were to exit the plan.”
The department did not address the estimate issue, but said, “Discussions will take place between the Government of Canada and provinces and territories over the coming weeks regarding the report and possible next steps.”
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