The Alberta NDP has formally announced five additional pension town halls in Calgary, Red Deer, St. Albert, Ardrossan, and a second date in Edmonton. (Photo 96042199 © Designer491 | Dreamstime.com)

By Sheldon Spackman and Justin Goulet

Alberta NDP announces five more in-person town halls

Nov 21, 2023 | 11:51 AM

RED DEER, AB – The Alberta NDP says its continuing to engage with people across the province concerned about the UCP’s proposed Alberta Pension Plan (APP) and departure from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).

Following a town hall held in Edmonton earlier this month, which the Opposition noted was attended by nearly 500 people, the NDP has formally announced five additional pension town halls in Calgary, Red Deer, St. Albert, Ardrossan, and a second date in Edmonton.

The party said further town halls are being planned in Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Drumheller and elsewhere in the weeks ahead.

“We continue to hear overwhelmingly from Albertans that they want the UCP to keep their hands off CPP,” said Samir Kayande, Alberta NDP Finance Critic for Fiscal Responsibility.

“We are holding town halls across Alberta to talk about the value of a good pension, the success of CPP that spans decades and on how best to stop this government’s risky gamble with retirement security.”

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Alberta NDP House Leader Christina Gray said the UCP has refused to engage with Albertans about their plans to pull out of CPP in-person, but instead, hiding behind prescreened telephone town halls.

“I am issuing an invitation to the Premier, the Finance Minister and anyone else in the UCP government willing to attend our town halls,” Gray said.

“We’ll gladly host you and you can hear directly from Albertans about the stress and anxiety this incompetent plot to pull out of CPP is causing.”

The Alberta NDP claims more than 37,000 Albertans have responded to their survey on protecting pensions and more than 90 per cent are said to have indicated they do not support leaving CPP. The Opposition said Albertans are continued to be encouraged to make their voice heard.

As well, Albertans planning to attend the upcoming pension town halls are encouraged to pre-register to ensure a seat is saved for them.

Details of the upcoming NDP town halls are as follows:

• St. Albert

St. Albert Seniors Centre, 7 Tache Street

Thursday, Nov. 30 at 11 a.m.

MLAs: Rachel Notley, Marie Renaud

• Red Deer

Golden Circle Seniors Resource Centre, 4620 — 47A Avenue

Friday, Dec. 1, 12 p.m.

MLAs: Rachel Notley, Christina Gray

• Ardrossan

Ardrossan Recreation Complex, 80 First Avenue

Saturday, Dec. 9, 1 p.m.

MLAs: Kyle Kasawski, Heather Sweet

• Edmonton

Westend Seniors Activity Centre, 9629 — 176 St. NW

Monday, Dec. 11, 5 p.m.

MLAs: Sarah Hoffman, Lorne Dach, Nathan Ip, Brooks Arcand-Paul, Lori Sigurdson

• Calgary

Temple Community Association, 167 Templegreen Rd NE

Thursday, Dec. 14, 6:30 p.m.

MLAs: Rachel Notley, Parmeet Singh Boparai, Gurinder Brar, Irfan Sabir, Samir Kayande, Kathleen Ganley

TELEPHONE TOWN HALL

Meantime, Albertans are still invited to participate in a remaining telephone town hall focused on a potential Alberta Pension Plan (APP).

The remaining session will occur this month and be hosted by the Alberta Pension Plan Engagement Panel, led by former provincial treasurer Jim Dinning.

Albertans will have the chance to discuss the findings of a LifeWorks report, released on September 21, 2023. Officials said the report found that leaving the CPP in favour of a new APP could save Albertans billions.

READ MORE: Province claims leaving Canada Pension Plan could save Albertans billions

Dinning stated, “Now that the LifeWorks report is out for discussion, our panel has been tasked with listening to Albertans and hearing their thoughts, views, and concerns about a provincial pension plan. For something this big, Albertans deserve the benefit of a rational, adult conversation.”

Following the release of the LifeWorks report, the province said it began a public engagement campaign by launching a survey regarding the potential creation of an APP.

The government’s telephone town halls have already taken place in northern Alberta, southern Alberta, Calgary and surrounding area, and Edmonton and surrounding area. The fifth and final one will take place in central Alberta on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

More details on how to participate are at the Alberta Pension Plan website.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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