Feeling uneasy about the lack of solid information from the Alberta Government and their supporters? Alberta-based pension experts have gathered the most asked questions that the government hasn’t answered – and here are the honest, straightforward answers. Click on the question below to get the answer.

  1. The UCP Government and the LifeWorks report say that an Alberta Pension Plan could provide higher benefits or offer lower contribution rates because if Alberta leaves the Canada Pension Plan it would be entitled to over half the assets of the CPP, roughly $334 Billion. Is this true? 
  2. Even if Alberta gets less than 53% of the CPP’s assets, isn’t it true that our relatively younger and higher-income workers and their employers would be able to get the same or even better benefits for lower contributions?
  3. Some people argue that they can find investment tools for retirement that will give higher returns than the CPP. So why is the CPP a good investment?
  4. Will an Alberta Pension Plan offer the same disability benefits as the CPP?
  5. If I die at age 66, there’s nothing left for my estate except the $3500 death benefit. Isn’t this a rip-off?
  6. Can the Alberta government withdraw from CPP without the consent of the federal government and the other provinces?
  7. Isn’t it unfair that we are subsidizing the rest of Canada because we pay relatively more into the plan and collect relatively less?
  8. Do we pay more into the pension plan than people in other provinces?
  9. Why should we have to be in a pension plan that’s run by the federal government? Wouldn’t we be better off in a plan that serves Albertans’ interests?
  10. Is the CPPIB’s cost of operation a rip-off?
  11.  Is CPPIB refusing to invest, or selling its investments, in non-renewable resources?
  12. Shouldn’t we be trying to encourage an Alberta-based investment industry?
  13. Would those of us already receiving CPP pensions be “grandfathered” into the CPP? (Variation: wouldn’t we be receiving a pension from CPP for the proportion of our careers already spent contributing to CPP? Variation 2: if I move away from Alberta, couldn’t I stay in CPP?)
  14. Could we opt, as individuals, to stay in CPP?
  15. Why can’t I opt out of CPP or APP altogether?
  16. Is it true that CPP is a Ponzi scheme and will go bankrupt leaving me without a pension?
  17. Couldn't an Alberta Pension Plan use part of its funds to invest in building up the Alberta economy?
  18. Could funds from an Alberta Pension Plan be used to rebuild provincial infrastructure?
  19. Has Alberta been forced to be in the CPP, and have decisions been made over the years that hurt Alberta?
  20. "How much would be owed to Alberta?"

  21. I’m being told that my CPP contributions aren’t an investment like they would be in an RRSP or any other pension plan – they’re a tax, and I don’t get a return on my investment. Is that true?

  22. I have heard that by 2026 the CPP will be paying out more in annual pensions than it receives in annual contributions. Does this mean the fund will run out and there won’t be enough for future pensioners?