Horner tells Calgary business community province knows leaving the CPP is ‘controversial’

The idea of Alberta leaving the Canada Pension Plan was a focus of conversation once again Friday morning, as finance minister Nate Horner spoke to members of Calgary’s business community.

Horner told CityNews that another meeting with the rest of the province’s finance ministers will be taking place in mid-December.

This follows the last meeting held earlier in the month, where Horner says there appeared to be more important things to talk about, rather than Alberta possibly leaving the CPP.

Watch: ‘Albertans should want to stay’: CPP president visits Calgary

“It was said at that meeting, ‘I don’t even know why we’re talking about this. This could take a decade, why don’t we talk about the thing that’s right in front of our face right now?'” he said. “Saskatchewan is saying they’re going to quit charging the carbon tax at SaskEnergy by Jan. 1, so you’d think that that would be a key priority.”

In Friday’s session, Horner called talk of the province leaving the plan a “controversial conversation” and that all the other provinces are acknowledging that Alberta has the right to consider leaving.

“Everyone acknowledges this is Alberta’s right to consider, just like it’s any province’s right to consider just like it’s any province’s right to consider,” he said. “Certainly, some of the other provinces would like Alberta to stay in.

“It sparked some other conversations about Alberta’s importance to confederation in that meeting.”

In the sit down conversation with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce’s CEO Deborah Yedlin, the minister was asked how Alberta could sell the idea to the rest of the country.

“My task is to sell it to Albertans, I wouldn’t say sell it — but, have a conversation with Albertans,” Horner said.

Horner reiterated his stance that ultimately, the decision to leave the plan is up to Albertans.

“We know this a controversial conversation that’s happening across the province,” he added.