Alberta Pension Plan Myths
INTRO TEXT HERE
APP Fact 1
Despite claims by unions and NDP politicians that the Government of Alberta is trying to “steal” Albertans' pensions, this is not the case.
Pensioners would continue to receive their pension just as they do now, and pension benefits must be at least equal to what they are now, at a minimum.
That’s because the Canada Pension Plan Act legally requires that any province that creates its own pension plan must offer at least the same benefits as offered by the CPP, and it’s simply not possible to leave the CPP without this guarantee.
In reality, moving from a Canada Pension Plan to an Alberta Pension Plan will most likely just mean changing Albertans’ pension funds from being managed by an arms-length, independent, non-political organization based in Ottawa to an arms-length, independent, non-political organization based in Alberta.
APP Fact 2
Everyone knows the Alberta government doesn’t pay into the Canada Pension Plan.
When we say “Alberta subsidizes the Canadian Pension Plan”, this is just short-hand for “the people of Alberta subsidize the Canadian Pension Plan”.
Those making this argument are just intentionally playing word games to muddy the waters.
It’s like saying that the Edmonton Oilers didn’t score a goal, an Edmonton Oilers player scored a goal, or saying that Dell doesn’t make laptops, Dell employees make laptops.
APP Fact 3
The exact process that a province must follow in order to leave the Canada Pension Plan and create its own provincial pension plan is included in the law that created the Canada Pension Plant itself - the Canada Pension Plan Act.
Provinces have this right to leave because the Constitution of Canada protects the provinces' right to implement their own pension systems as a matter of provincial jurisdiction, and the Canada Pension Plan was only created in the first place when the provinces voluntarily agreed to let the federal government implement a federal pension system.
As a condition of joining, Ontario insisted on a rule that would allow provinces to leave the scheme in the future, and be compensated for the funds they would have had in a provincial scheme had they never joined in the first place.
Quebec opted not to join in on this federal pension system right from the start, despite the existence of this rule, and while this means that it’s true that Quebec technically never “left” the Canada Pension Plan, there’s no dispute that they would have been entitled to do so had they ever joined in the first place.
APP Fact 3
The exact process that a province must follow in order to leave the Canada Pension Plan and create its own provincial pension plan is included in the law that created the Canada Pension Plant itself - the Canada Pension Plan Act.
Provinces have this right to leave because the Constitution of Canada protects the provinces' right to implement their own pension systems as a matter of provincial jurisdiction, and the Canada Pension Plan was only created in the first place when the provinces voluntarily agreed to let the federal government implement a federal pension system.
As a condition of joining, Ontario insisted on a rule that would allow provinces to leave the scheme in the future, and be compensated for the funds they would have had in a provincial scheme had they never joined in the first place.
Quebec opted not to join in on this federal pension system right from the start, despite the existence of this rule, and while this means that it’s true that Quebec technically never “left” the Canada Pension Plan, there’s no dispute that they would have been entitled to do so had they ever joined in the first place.
APP Fact 3
The exact process that a province must follow in order to leave the Canada Pension Plan and create its own provincial pension plan is included in the law that created the Canada Pension Plant itself - the Canada Pension Plan Act.
Provinces have this right to leave because the Constitution of Canada protects the provinces' right to implement their own pension systems as a matter of provincial jurisdiction, and the Canada Pension Plan was only created in the first place when the provinces voluntarily agreed to let the federal government implement a federal pension system.
As a condition of joining, Ontario insisted on a rule that would allow provinces to leave the scheme in the future, and be compensated for the funds they would have had in a provincial scheme had they never joined in the first place.
Quebec opted not to join in on this federal pension system right from the start, despite the existence of this rule, and while this means that it’s true that Quebec technically never “left” the Canada Pension Plan, there’s no dispute that they would have been entitled to do so had they ever joined in the first place.
APP Fact 3
The exact process that a province must follow in order to leave the Canada Pension Plan and create its own provincial pension plan is included in the law that created the Canada Pension Plant itself - the Canada Pension Plan Act.
Provinces have this right to leave because the Constitution of Canada protects the provinces' right to implement their own pension systems as a matter of provincial jurisdiction, and the Canada Pension Plan was only created in the first place when the provinces voluntarily agreed to let the federal government implement a federal pension system.
As a condition of joining, Ontario insisted on a rule that would allow provinces to leave the scheme in the future, and be compensated for the funds they would have had in a provincial scheme had they never joined in the first place.
Quebec opted not to join in on this federal pension system right from the start, despite the existence of this rule, and while this means that it’s true that Quebec technically never “left” the Canada Pension Plan, there’s no dispute that they would have been entitled to do so had they ever joined in the first place.
APP Fact 3
The exact process that a province must follow in order to leave the Canada Pension Plan and create its own provincial pension plan is included in the law that created the Canada Pension Plant itself - the Canada Pension Plan Act.
Provinces have this right to leave because the Constitution of Canada protects the provinces' right to implement their own pension systems as a matter of provincial jurisdiction, and the Canada Pension Plan was only created in the first place when the provinces voluntarily agreed to let the federal government implement a federal pension system.
As a condition of joining, Ontario insisted on a rule that would allow provinces to leave the scheme in the future, and be compensated for the funds they would have had in a provincial scheme had they never joined in the first place.
Quebec opted not to join in on this federal pension system right from the start, despite the existence of this rule, and while this means that it’s true that Quebec technically never “left” the Canada Pension Plan, there’s no dispute that they would have been entitled to do so had they ever joined in the first place.
APP Fact 3
The exact process that a province must follow in order to leave the Canada Pension Plan and create its own provincial pension plan is included in the law that created the Canada Pension Plant itself - the Canada Pension Plan Act.
Provinces have this right to leave because the Constitution of Canada protects the provinces' right to implement their own pension systems as a matter of provincial jurisdiction, and the Canada Pension Plan was only created in the first place when the provinces voluntarily agreed to let the federal government implement a federal pension system.
As a condition of joining, Ontario insisted on a rule that would allow provinces to leave the scheme in the future, and be compensated for the funds they would have had in a provincial scheme had they never joined in the first place.
Quebec opted not to join in on this federal pension system right from the start, despite the existence of this rule, and while this means that it’s true that Quebec technically never “left” the Canada Pension Plan, there’s no dispute that they would have been entitled to do so had they ever joined in the first place.
APP Fact 3
The exact process that a province must follow in order to leave the Canada Pension Plan and create its own provincial pension plan is included in the law that created the Canada Pension Plant itself - the Canada Pension Plan Act.
Provinces have this right to leave because the Constitution of Canada protects the provinces' right to implement their own pension systems as a matter of provincial jurisdiction, and the Canada Pension Plan was only created in the first place when the provinces voluntarily agreed to let the federal government implement a federal pension system.
As a condition of joining, Ontario insisted on a rule that would allow provinces to leave the scheme in the future, and be compensated for the funds they would have had in a provincial scheme had they never joined in the first place.
Quebec opted not to join in on this federal pension system right from the start, despite the existence of this rule, and while this means that it’s true that Quebec technically never “left” the Canada Pension Plan, there’s no dispute that they would have been entitled to do so had they ever joined in the first place.
APP Fact 3
The exact process that a province must follow in order to leave the Canada Pension Plan and create its own provincial pension plan is included in the law that created the Canada Pension Plant itself - the Canada Pension Plan Act.
Provinces have this right to leave because the Constitution of Canada protects the provinces' right to implement their own pension systems as a matter of provincial jurisdiction, and the Canada Pension Plan was only created in the first place when the provinces voluntarily agreed to let the federal government implement a federal pension system.
As a condition of joining, Ontario insisted on a rule that would allow provinces to leave the scheme in the future, and be compensated for the funds they would have had in a provincial scheme had they never joined in the first place.
Quebec opted not to join in on this federal pension system right from the start, despite the existence of this rule, and while this means that it’s true that Quebec technically never “left” the Canada Pension Plan, there’s no dispute that they would have been entitled to do so had they ever joined in the first place.
APP Fact 3
The exact process that a province must follow in order to leave the Canada Pension Plan and create its own provincial pension plan is included in the law that created the Canada Pension Plant itself - the Canada Pension Plan Act.
Provinces have this right to leave because the Constitution of Canada protects the provinces' right to implement their own pension systems as a matter of provincial jurisdiction, and the Canada Pension Plan was only created in the first place when the provinces voluntarily agreed to let the federal government implement a federal pension system.
As a condition of joining, Ontario insisted on a rule that would allow provinces to leave the scheme in the future, and be compensated for the funds they would have had in a provincial scheme had they never joined in the first place.
Quebec opted not to join in on this federal pension system right from the start, despite the existence of this rule, and while this means that it’s true that Quebec technically never “left” the Canada Pension Plan, there’s no dispute that they would have been entitled to do so had they ever joined in the first place.
APP Fact 3
The exact process that a province must follow in order to leave the Canada Pension Plan and create its own provincial pension plan is included in the law that created the Canada Pension Plant itself - the Canada Pension Plan Act.
Provinces have this right to leave because the Constitution of Canada protects the provinces' right to implement their own pension systems as a matter of provincial jurisdiction, and the Canada Pension Plan was only created in the first place when the provinces voluntarily agreed to let the federal government implement a federal pension system.
As a condition of joining, Ontario insisted on a rule that would allow provinces to leave the scheme in the future, and be compensated for the funds they would have had in a provincial scheme had they never joined in the first place.
Quebec opted not to join in on this federal pension system right from the start, despite the existence of this rule, and while this means that it’s true that Quebec technically never “left” the Canada Pension Plan, there’s no dispute that they would have been entitled to do so had they ever joined in the first place.
APP Fact 3
The exact process that a province must follow in order to leave the Canada Pension Plan and create its own provincial pension plan is included in the law that created the Canada Pension Plant itself - the Canada Pension Plan Act.
Provinces have this right to leave because the Constitution of Canada protects the provinces' right to implement their own pension systems as a matter of provincial jurisdiction, and the Canada Pension Plan was only created in the first place when the provinces voluntarily agreed to let the federal government implement a federal pension system.
As a condition of joining, Ontario insisted on a rule that would allow provinces to leave the scheme in the future, and be compensated for the funds they would have had in a provincial scheme had they never joined in the first place.
Quebec opted not to join in on this federal pension system right from the start, despite the existence of this rule, and while this means that it’s true that Quebec technically never “left” the Canada Pension Plan, there’s no dispute that they would have been entitled to do so had they ever joined in the first place.
APP Fact 3
The exact process that a province must follow in order to leave the Canada Pension Plan and create its own provincial pension plan is included in the law that created the Canada Pension Plant itself - the Canada Pension Plan Act.
Provinces have this right to leave because the Constitution of Canada protects the provinces' right to implement their own pension systems as a matter of provincial jurisdiction, and the Canada Pension Plan was only created in the first place when the provinces voluntarily agreed to let the federal government implement a federal pension system.
As a condition of joining, Ontario insisted on a rule that would allow provinces to leave the scheme in the future, and be compensated for the funds they would have had in a provincial scheme had they never joined in the first place.
Quebec opted not to join in on this federal pension system right from the start, despite the existence of this rule, and while this means that it’s true that Quebec technically never “left” the Canada Pension Plan, there’s no dispute that they would have been entitled to do so had they ever joined in the first place.
APP Fact 3
The exact process that a province must follow in order to leave the Canada Pension Plan and create its own provincial pension plan is included in the law that created the Canada Pension Plant itself - the Canada Pension Plan Act.
Provinces have this right to leave because the Constitution of Canada protects the provinces' right to implement their own pension systems as a matter of provincial jurisdiction, and the Canada Pension Plan was only created in the first place when the provinces voluntarily agreed to let the federal government implement a federal pension system.
As a condition of joining, Ontario insisted on a rule that would allow provinces to leave the scheme in the future, and be compensated for the funds they would have had in a provincial scheme had they never joined in the first place.
Quebec opted not to join in on this federal pension system right from the start, despite the existence of this rule, and while this means that it’s true that Quebec technically never “left” the Canada Pension Plan, there’s no dispute that they would have been entitled to do so had they ever joined in the first place.
APP Fact 3
The exact process that a province must follow in order to leave the Canada Pension Plan and create its own provincial pension plan is included in the law that created the Canada Pension Plant itself - the Canada Pension Plan Act.
Provinces have this right to leave because the Constitution of Canada protects the provinces' right to implement their own pension systems as a matter of provincial jurisdiction, and the Canada Pension Plan was only created in the first place when the provinces voluntarily agreed to let the federal government implement a federal pension system.
As a condition of joining, Ontario insisted on a rule that would allow provinces to leave the scheme in the future, and be compensated for the funds they would have had in a provincial scheme had they never joined in the first place.
Quebec opted not to join in on this federal pension system right from the start, despite the existence of this rule, and while this means that it’s true that Quebec technically never “left” the Canada Pension Plan, there’s no dispute that they would have been entitled to do so had they ever joined in the first place.
APP Fact 3
The exact process that a province must follow in order to leave the Canada Pension Plan and create its own provincial pension plan is included in the law that created the Canada Pension Plant itself - the Canada Pension Plan Act.
Provinces have this right to leave because the Constitution of Canada protects the provinces' right to implement their own pension systems as a matter of provincial jurisdiction, and the Canada Pension Plan was only created in the first place when the provinces voluntarily agreed to let the federal government implement a federal pension system.
As a condition of joining, Ontario insisted on a rule that would allow provinces to leave the scheme in the future, and be compensated for the funds they would have had in a provincial scheme had they never joined in the first place.
Quebec opted not to join in on this federal pension system right from the start, despite the existence of this rule, and while this means that it’s true that Quebec technically never “left” the Canada Pension Plan, there’s no dispute that they would have been entitled to do so had they ever joined in the first place.
APP Fact 3
The exact process that a province must follow in order to leave the Canada Pension Plan and create its own provincial pension plan is included in the law that created the Canada Pension Plant itself - the Canada Pension Plan Act.
Provinces have this right to leave because the Constitution of Canada protects the provinces' right to implement their own pension systems as a matter of provincial jurisdiction, and the Canada Pension Plan was only created in the first place when the provinces voluntarily agreed to let the federal government implement a federal pension system.
As a condition of joining, Ontario insisted on a rule that would allow provinces to leave the scheme in the future, and be compensated for the funds they would have had in a provincial scheme had they never joined in the first place.
Quebec opted not to join in on this federal pension system right from the start, despite the existence of this rule, and while this means that it’s true that Quebec technically never “left” the Canada Pension Plan, there’s no dispute that they would have been entitled to do so had they ever joined in the first place.
APP Fact 3
The exact process that a province must follow in order to leave the Canada Pension Plan and create its own provincial pension plan is included in the law that created the Canada Pension Plant itself - the Canada Pension Plan Act.
Provinces have this right to leave because the Constitution of Canada protects the provinces' right to implement their own pension systems as a matter of provincial jurisdiction, and the Canada Pension Plan was only created in the first place when the provinces voluntarily agreed to let the federal government implement a federal pension system.
As a condition of joining, Ontario insisted on a rule that would allow provinces to leave the scheme in the future, and be compensated for the funds they would have had in a provincial scheme had they never joined in the first place.
Quebec opted not to join in on this federal pension system right from the start, despite the existence of this rule, and while this means that it’s true that Quebec technically never “left” the Canada Pension Plan, there’s no dispute that they would have been entitled to do so had they ever joined in the first place.
APP Fact 3
The exact process that a province must follow in order to leave the Canada Pension Plan and create its own provincial pension plan is included in the law that created the Canada Pension Plant itself - the Canada Pension Plan Act.
Provinces have this right to leave because the Constitution of Canada protects the provinces' right to implement their own pension systems as a matter of provincial jurisdiction, and the Canada Pension Plan was only created in the first place when the provinces voluntarily agreed to let the federal government implement a federal pension system.
As a condition of joining, Ontario insisted on a rule that would allow provinces to leave the scheme in the future, and be compensated for the funds they would have had in a provincial scheme had they never joined in the first place.
Quebec opted not to join in on this federal pension system right from the start, despite the existence of this rule, and while this means that it’s true that Quebec technically never “left” the Canada Pension Plan, there’s no dispute that they would have been entitled to do so had they ever joined in the first place.