NDP says UCP cabinet minister’s letter suggests he doesn’t believe Albertans support pension idea

In a news release, the Opposition NDP made Affordability and Utilities Minister Nathan Neudorf's letter to a constituent public.

The Alberta NDP released a letter to the public on Friday that it says demonstrates at least one senior UCP lawmaker believes his government’s interest in exploring the idea of a provincial pension plan would not currently be supported by citizens.

In a news release, the Opposition NDP made Affordability and Utilities Minister Nathan Neudorf’s letter to a constituent public.

“I believe that Albertans are proud Canadians, incredibly generous and caring,” reads one part of the letter. “And, at this time, would likely choose not to proceed to a referendum (about creating a provincial pension plan).

“My job is to represent, and advocate for the best interest of the Lethbridge East community. Whatever your position, it is your pensions, so it is your choices.”

The letter was released on the same day finance ministers from across Canada met to discuss the Alberta government’s ongoing interest in exploring the possibility of pursuing such a plan.

“If (Premier) Danielle Smith and (Finance Minister) Nate Horner can’t even convince their own cabinet colleagues that this is a good idea, then why on Earth are they spending millions of Albertans’ hard-earned dollars promoting it on TV and the radio and billboards and online and so on?” Shannon Phillips, the Opposition finance critic, said in a news release.

“Why are the UCP throwing away a chance to gather Canada’s finance ministers together on a half-baked scheme they don’t even believe in themselves?”

When asked for comment on the letter, Neudorf’s office issued a statement to Global News that said what the government has “heard so far, is that Albertans need a firm number on the asset transfer before they would be prepared to vote on this in a referendum.”