pensions

The Alberta government’s abrupt dismissal of AIMCo’s board and CEO has sparked worries about political meddling and loss of independence. Stephen Harper’s appointment as chair was another step toward reshaping AIMCo to serve partisan goals over Albertans’ needs. Against this backdrop, understanding AIMCo’s evolution and its politicization becomes more critical than ever.

In this opening installment of Parkland’s two-part blog series on Alberta pensions, the authors examine the history of pension plans in Canada and Alberta, setting the stage for understanding the UCP's pension policies and their current proposal of an Alberta Pension Plan. For a recent history and analysis of the UCP's stance on public pensions, please read the blog “Navigating the UCP’s Pension Agenda,” by Bob Ascah.

In this final installment of Parkland’s two-part blog series on Alberta pensions, the author explores the UCP's stance on public pensions, offering context from Alberta's recent history to frame the discussion of the Alberta Pension Plan proposal. For a history of pension plans in Canada and Alberta, please read the blog “Ensuring Dignity in Retirement,” by Baldwin Reichwein, Richard Ramsay, and Jake Kuiken.

When launching its report on an Alberta Pension Plan (APP), the government asked Albertans to “look at the facts” and engage in the discussion. But “facts” are sorely missing in the report—and the invitation to discuss the APP excludes the most important question: do Albertans really want out of the CPP?

What can Alberta workers expect from this United Conservative Party government? The UCP’s first term cheapened labour costs for employers, while its 2023 election platform contained few promises related to labour and employment matters. This post presents six labour-related issues that should be on every worker’s radar over the next four years.