Smith says Alberta's CPP exit campaign to continue despite questions over key number

Premier Danielle Smith says Alberta will continue its $7.5-million pension-exit advertising and survey campaign, despite acknowledging the key dollar figure is disputed and likely headed to court.

Premier Danielle Smith says Alberta will continue its $7.5-million pension-exit advertising and survey campaign, despite acknowledging the key dollar figure is disputed and likely headed to court.

Smith says her government stands by its assertion that Alberta deserves $334 billion if it leaves the Canada Pension Plan — a figure that represents more than half of all CPP assets.

Smith says the number stands because it’s the only number out there.

“We've asked the federal government to give us their interpretation. They declined,” Smith told reporters in Calgary on Thursday.

“We've asked the CPP Investment Board to give us their interpretation, it declined. 

“So maybe the next step is to go to court to see if the court supports our interpretation.” 

Smith reiterated comments she made a day earlier in Edmonton that until that transfer number is nailed down, she will not ask Albertans to vote in a referendum on leaving the CPP.