The Alberta NDP said today it will hold in-person town hall meetings with Albertans concerned about the UCP plan to opt out of the Canada Pension Plan.
At a Monday news conference, Alberta NDP House Leader Christina Gray said besides the online town hall set for Oct. 19, the NDP is scheduling in-person events for Albertans to weigh in on leaving the CPP. While no dates have been yet announced, Gray said events in St. Albert and Lethbridge are a go, with other communities encouraged to work with the NDP on a date/venue for their own town hall.
“We know Albertans have a lot to say on this issue and we will not let Danielle Smith ignore Albertans in this critical debate,” said Gray, adding the NDP has made a formal request with the province's pension engagement panel asking it to hold in-person sessions too. On Premier Smith's weekend radio talk show, she said the UCP's telephone town halls set for Oct and Nov. are 'a start' in the engagement process, but offered no details on further engagement.
Gray said the Alberta NDP “Your Pension is Yours” online survey launched three weeks ago has already collected responses from more 26,000 Albertans, with 90 per cent opposing the UCP plan to create an Alberta Pension.
“For the Premier to be unwilling to look Albertans in the eye on this issue is dishonest and cowardly," said Gray, adding she's received some 1,500 emails from her Mill Woods constituents on the pension issue. "And the government's fake survey doesn't even ask the key question, 'Do you want to leave the CPP?' Albertans deserve answers on this important issue."
The Alberta NDP will also hold an online consultation on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m. Albertans can register to attend at AlbertasFuture.ca.
The UCP telephone town halls start tonight, Oct. 16 with a Northern Alberta-focused call-in from 6:30 to 8 p.m. An upcoming telephone town hall for southern Alberta goes Oct. 24 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
For details on how to participate, go to albertapensionplan.ca.
