Future on agenda at Alberta Next panel discussion

Many passionate questions and comments were directed to Premier Danielle Smith at Thursday night’s Alberta Next Town Hall held at the Agri-Food Hub, with topics covering a variety of issues on Alberta’s relationship with Ottawa.

There were six different videos presented to the registration-only audience, each including a different topic, which was followed by an open mic for audience members to voice their questions and concerns.

Several instances were noted where those watching the town hall online could hear moderator Bruce McAllister, executive director of the premier’s office, react to questions by either laughing or groaning. Meanwhile, those who questioned the nature of the videos, and event itself, as propaganda, had their microphones shut off.

Former Lethbridge mayor David Carpenter, who attended live, also noted the McAllister took direction from the premier as to who should answer the question, if the question should be answered and when the mic should be cut off.

Discussions centred on equalization payments, a new tax system, a new pension plan for Albertans, a new provincial police service and immigration policy.

One citizen pointed out the hypocrisy of turning down federal pharmacare, dental care, and housing initiatives and then claiming the federal government doesn’t want to give Alberta money.

Smith replied that provinces are often rewarded for keeping their resources in the ground and there needs to be a reform that is fair for everyone. She also noted that substantive changes are made about every five years, but the current equalization formula is going on nearly two decades.

She later added that many provinces are working on developing their resources for both their own use as well as new markets, especially in light of Canada’s tenuous relationship with the U.S. in recent months.

“I think everyone is seized by this idea that they should develop their own resources, not only for their own use, but to develop new markets.”

Regarding an Alberta pension plan, Canada Pension Plan legislation states that a province can opt out of it, as long as it has its own pension plan which provides equal or better benefits for their citizens.

The UCP claims that Albertans pay $3 billion more than they receive back, mostly because Alberta is a young working province compared to others. By exiting out they claim Alberta would get a lump payout of $140 billion, which the government believes is more than enough to get the ball rolling.

“Over time (the CPP) has gone from $150 million in management expenses to $6 billion and they’re getting worse results now with their active management than they did under the passive management.”

Carpenter pointed out that CPP liability for Alberta’s earliest exit from the plan would almost be $2 trillion and asked what the province estimates its share is going to be, and how it plans to pay that debt. Smith claims that today’s CPP contributors pay for today’s recipients and that will continue.

Trevor Tombe, an economist with the University of Calgary, added that an APP would currently have a 3-1 ratio of workers, to seniors which will be more than enough to cover liability down the road.

Neither touched on the topic of what Alberta would owe to CPP if it were to exit.

When the subject turned to an Alberta provincial police service, many people from rural areas and family of RCMP members noted that some detachments are understaffed which can result in long wait times for help. Many offered support for a new province-wide service.

With Canada covering 30 per cent of the cost for RCMP, there was concern that municipalities would be held responsible for the amount. Smith noted that places like Grande Prairie actually ended up saving money by having their own police force.

Smith said the province is changing laws so sherifs can be affirmed as police and peace officers, putting them on a pathway to become peace officers.

Another hot topic was immigration, with many immigrants both supporting and opposing the idea of regulating the number of immigrants allowed into Alberta.

One immigrant said her son, a first-generation Canadian, is having a hard time finding work due to many entry-level positions being taken by newcomers.

Smith said the province plans on prioritizing applicants who want to set up a business and those who have a job, and will contribute as a taxpayer over those seeking asylum and post-secondary students.

One immigrant said the blame towards the federal government – the “us vs. them” mentality, with immigrants blaming immigrants for the lack of jobs – is wrong.

Smith pointed out that 450,000 people have come to Alberta in the last three years, 200,000 of whom are students, and that there is no way they could build schools fast enough to accommodate them.

She also said she had a constructive meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday.

“We’ve actually come to an agreement on a whole pile of things that I hope you’ll be able to see in the coming days and weeks.”

After each open mic on the topics, a vote was held to see where people stood on the issues. Every single issue saw the “yeas” win; 

But Carpenter said he’s concerned about whether it was a valid vote. Carpenter and others noted how skewed the questions were, often holding back key information such as the liability debt to the CPP. He also questioned how people who lived outside of Lethbridge were able to show up early when the location wasn’t available to most registrants until Thursday.

He suggested that the majority of attendees were party members of the UCP.

After speaking with a few people afterwards, Carpenter said it was clear to him that very few felt their questions and concerns heard and answered.

Alexandra Noad,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter