‘The division today on the CPP is entirely the result of Justin Trudeau attacking the Alberta economy,’ Poilievre told the National Post in a statement
In his first public comments on Alberta’s proposal to withdraw from the Canada Pension Plan, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says that Albertans are seeking to “get some of their money back,” and says “I encourage Albertans to stay in the CPP.”
The statement, sent exclusively to the National Post, marks the first time Poilievre has explicitly addressed the issue of Alberta’s proposal to withdraw from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and set up its own pension fund.
“We would not be having this CPP debate if I were today prime minister because Alberta would be free from carbon taxes, unconstitutional anti-energy laws, and other unfair wealth transfers.”
Poilievre’s statement comes one day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent a fiery open letter to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith saying that his government would defend the CPP against Alberta’s withdrawal.
In an emailed statement to National Post Friday morning, Smith said “I appreciate the tone and sentiment” of Poilievre’s statement “regarding the multiple destructive policies the Liberal-NDP coalition have imposed on the Albertan and Canadian economies.”
“As it relates to the Alberta Pension Plan; this is an opportunity Albertans are discussing that has potential to improve the lives of our seniors and workers without risk to the pensions of fellow Canadians,” Smith said. “After this broad consultation and discussion are complete, Albertans will ultimately decide whether or not to pursue this opportunity further.”
That figure, which has been hotly debated by economists and politicians, is based on what LifeWorks deemed to be “equal to Albertans’ contributions less benefit payments and expenses accumulated with net investment earnings.”
The Alberta New Democrats have been fierce opponents of such a proposal and the Alberta Federation of Labour, a major grouping of unions, vowed on Thursday to fight against the proposal. Additionally, CPP Investments, the board that manages the CPP, has slammed the Alberta government’s consultation process as it seeks feedback from Albertans on leaving the CPP.
Advocates for creating an Alberta pension plan have argued that the province’s young population, relative to the rest of the country, would end up paying less in CPP contributions from their paycheques, and an independent pension fund would see increased retirement benefits paid out to seniors.
“Alberta’s withdrawal would weaken the pensions of millions of seniors and hardworking people in Alberta and right across the country. The harm it would cause is undeniable,” Trudeau wrote. “We will not stand by as anyone seeks to weaken pensions and reduce the retirement income of Canadians.”
Smith shot back with her own open letter, raising concerns that Trudeau had threatened to block Alberta’s withdrawal.
“Any attempt to do so will be seen as (an) attack on the constitutional and legal rights of Alberta and met with serious legal and political consequences,” Smith’s letter states. “If Albertans choose to withdraw from CPP, I expect that you will respect their choice.”
Duane Bratt, a political scientist at Calgary’s Mount Royal University speculated that Trudeau’s open letter was meant to force Poilievre’s camp to say something about his views.
“It’s not going to help (Trudeau) in Alberta,” said Bratt. “But I think Trudeau did that, in part to call out Poilievre — like what’s Poilievre going to do? Because Scott Moe hasn’t said anything. Doug Ford hasn’t said anything.”
Poilievre and his Conservative party are highly popular in Alberta. Just four members of Parliament representing Alberta are Liberal or NDP MPs. Recent polling from the Angus Reid Institute shows that 55 per cent of Albertans have a favourable view of Poilievre.
“As prime minister, I will protect and secure the CPP for Albertans and all Canadians, by treating every province fairly and freeing Alberta to develop its resources to secure our future,” said Poilievre.
Smith’s statement concludes with a similar sentiment, saying the UCP government “very much (looks) forward to working with Pierre Poilievre … to restore respect for the constitutional rights of provinces to the economic benefit of all Canadians.”
Said Bratt: “It matters in the rest of the country. If you’re going to be prime minister of Canada, how can you not support the Canada Pension Plan?
Saskatchewan’s election unfolded as predicted in early returns Monday, with Scott Moe’s Saskatchewan Party dominating in rural constituencies and Carla Beck’s NDP fighting for enough urban votes to eke out a path to victory.
Moe’s Saskatchewan Party was edging closer to securing the 31 seats needed for a majority in the 61-seat legislature, powered by victories in its traditional rural base.
Beck’s New Democrats were leading or elected in about two dozen seats in Regina and Saskatoon but needed to sweep the major cities.
The NDP also gained back the rural northern riding of Athabasca, which it won in 2020 only to lose to the Saskatchewan Party in a subsequent byelection.
Moe, in his second election as leader of the Saskatchewan Party, retained his seat in Rosthern-Shellbrook. No polls had reported yet in Beck’s riding of Regina Lakeview.
Several other cabinet ministers retained their seats: Agriculture Minister David Marit, Energy Minister Jim Reiter, Advanced Education Minister Colleen Young, Highways Minister Lori Carr, Health Minister Everett Hindley and Trade and Immigration Minister Jeremy Harrison.
Harrison was a controversial figure on the hustings. Earlier this year, he apologized for carrying a gun into the legislature about a decade ago while on the way to go hunting.
The Saskatchewan Party was seeking a fifth-straight majority to add to its 17 years in office, while Beck’s NDP was looking to take back government for the first time since 2007.
The voting caps a month-long campaign that focused on health care, affordability and crime.
Moe promised broad tax relief and continued withholding of federal carbon levy payments to Ottawa.
His platform would cost an additional $1.2 billion over four years. He said his tax reduction plan would save a family of four $3,400 over four years. It also includes tax credits for those looking to grow their families or put their children in sports and arts.
Moe promised deficits in the first two years, followed by a surplus in 2027.
Beck pledged to spend more to fix health care and education, pause the gas tax, and remove the provincial sales tax on children’s clothes and some grocery items.
She said her promises would cost an additional $3.5 billion over four years, with plans to cut what she calls Saskatchewan Party waste and to balance the budget by the end of her term.
Moe also promised that his first order of business if re-elected would be to ban “biological boys” from using school changing rooms with “biological girls.”
He said he made the promise after learning of a complaint at a southeast Saskatchewan school about two biological boys using a girls change room.
It was later revealed that a parent of the two children who were the subjects of the complaint is an NDP candidate. Moe said he didn’t know that when he made the promise.
Beck has said such a ban would make vulnerable kids more vulnerable. She also promised to repeal a Saskatchewan Party law that requires parental consent if children under 16 want to change their names or pronouns at school.
Political experts said Moe was favoured to win the election, given his party’s strength in rural areas, but recent polls suggested a closer race.
At dissolution, the governing Saskatchewan Party had 42 seats, while the Opposition NDP had 14. There were four Independents and one seat was vacant.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 28, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
MONTREAL – A Montreal suburb with a park overpopulated with white-tailed deer says it has carried out the first phase of its cull, with 64 animals killed.
Longueuil, Que., has fought against activists for years to carry out the cull, and says it will thin the herd further before February.
Between Tuesday and Thursday hunters using air guns shot and killed 64 deer at Michel-Chartrand Park, a green space on Montreal’s South Shore.
Longueuil officials say the operation went smoothly and that other culls will take place until February, when a provincial permit expires.
The city has said it needs to restore ecological equilibrium to the park, where up to 114 deer had been living in a green space that can accommodate about 15.
Officials had been trying to kill the animals since 2020 but faced strong opposition and legal challenges from animal rights groups.
In October 2023, the province’s Court of Appeal sided with the city.
The meat will be donated to a local food bank for distribution by the end of the year.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
BANFF, Alta. – A popular selfie spot for visitors to Banff National Park has become a victim of its own success.
The two-metre-high, $350,000 “Banff” sign was installed in 2017 on Mount Norquay Avenue, one of two entrances into the Alberta mountain park’s idyllic townsite.
But the narrow two-lane road, which runs from the Mount Norquay Ski Resort seven kilometres away, is fraught with traffic jams, even between the peak tourist seasons of winter and summer.
Town officials have decided it needs to be moved.
“We’ve debated this for over three years now,” said Darren Enns, Banff’s director of planning and environment. “We’ve finally reached the point that we made the decision to take the next step forward.”
Banff gets about four million visitors a year, and Mount Norquay Avenue sees 55 to 60 per cent of the traffic, said Enns.
In the summer, there are about 17,000 vehicles a day on the avenue, with lots of pedestrians crossing the road from a parking lot to the sign.
“We’re very fortunate to not have any public safety incidents. But certainly that’s always top of mind, and our council has directed us to look at a more pedestrian-oriented environment for the sign,” said Enns, adding a move could happen as early as next summer.
On a recent sunny day in October, a steady stream of visitors made their way from across the road to the sign, causing traffic to stop.
A lineup of about 30 people waited for a chance to take photos, many offering to snap shots for others.
Mike Jones and his wife were among those in line.
“It’s something we always do when we go to a touristy place. We always like to have a memory of wherever we’re visiting, whether it’s Banff or somewhere else. It’s kind of what we do and I know a lot of others think the same way,” said Jones, who is from Fort McMurray.
He was surprised to hear the sign will be moving but said it’s likely the right call.
“I’m sure they’ll pick a good spot and a safe spot,” he said. “If it’s causing an issue, they do have to move it.”
Alissa Kittelson, her husband and two daughters were visiting from Minneapolis.
“Banff was on my bucket list. It’s beautiful. I’ve seen photos and I wanted to come and check it out. I hope it makes the Christmas card,” Kittelson said.
She was glad to get the family photo before the landmark is moved.
“I feel like it’s the perfect spot. We’re right on the edge of town. You can see the beautiful mountains behind it. You can see the beautiful trees. I’d be sad to see it moved.”
Enns said there are a couple of places where the sign could find a new home, including a downtown park. But the most likely location is a kilometre away at the Banff train station, where there are about 450 parking stalls.
“It’s always great to see a project that is so successful that it has unintended consequences around it,” Enns said.
“I’m very grateful for all the interactions we’ve been able to provide our visitors and all the memories that we’ve been able to create.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 27, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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