Dalena Reporters l December 22, 2025
The Alberta Next panel, a government‑appointed advisory body charged with gathering public input on Alberta’s future role within Canada, has released its final report recommending that the province consider holding separate referendums on a range of major policy issues — including taking greater provincial control over immigration and exiting the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) to establish a distinct Alberta Pension Plan (APP). The report was delivered to Premier Danielle Smith and the United Conservative Party (UCP) government on Friday.
Among the panel’s seven key recommendations is that the province should proceed with a referendum on whether Alberta should withdraw from the Canada Pension Plan and replace it with its own provincial pension system. The panel suggests this vote occur after the government presents a detailed proposal outlining how an Alberta Pension Plan would operate, including benefits, contributions and implementation logistics.
The report also urges that Albertans be given the chance to vote on whether the province should take more authority over immigration policy — effectively giving local voters a voice on whether Alberta should pursue greater control or oversight of immigration decisions and services. Other suggested future referendum topics include constitutional reform questions and strengthening provincial powers in specific areas, though not all were framed as immediate ballot questions.
Premier Smith, who chairs the panel, said the report reflects months of public engagement, including 10 town halls and thousands of online survey responses, in which participants voiced strong opinions on Alberta’s autonomy and its relationship with the federal government. The government has not yet committed to scheduling any referendum, and UCP caucus and cabinet members will decide which recommendations — if any — will advance to a ballot.
The recommendations come amid longstanding provincial frustrations with federal policies on economic issues, public services and resource development sentiments that have driven calls for greater provincial self‑determination. Critics, including the Alberta NDP and other opponents, argue that proposals like withdrawing from the CPP and altering immigration control could risk economic stability and provoke legal challenges, since immigration is primarily a federal responsibility.
If the government moves forward with referendums in 2026, Albertans could soon be asked to weigh in directly on whether the province should reshape its pension arrangements, take a larger role in immigration decisions, and pursue broader constitutional reforms — a major moment in Alberta’s ongoing debate over its place within the Canadian federation.
Published by Dalena Reporters.