Bell: Trudeau muscles in on Ottawa-Alberta fight cast as CPP saviour
Alberta #Alberta
Breadcrumb Trail Links
First, Trudeau is there to take a shot at the Alberta government. He’s upset with the Alberta government
Get the latest from Rick Bell straight to your inbox Sign Up
Published Oct 19, 2023 • Last updated 51 minutes ago • 4 minute read
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has entered the Alberta pension debate, saying his government will fight any actions that threaten the stability of the CPP. Photo by Sean Kilpatrick /The Canadian Press
Make no mistake.
Advertisement 2
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
REGISTER TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Article content
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is not there to save us.
Article content
He fires off a letter to Premier Danielle Smith Wednesday and makes it public.
Trudeau says he’s deeply concerned about Alberta getting out of the Canada Pension Plan and getting into an Alberta pension plan.
He’s looking out for Albertans. Yeah right.
This isn’t REALLY just about pensions.
And this sure as hell isn’t REALLY about riding to the rescue of Albertans.
First, Trudeau is there to take a shot at the Alberta government. He’s upset with the Alberta government.
Smith and the UCP government won’t play follow the leader and sign on to his plans for fast-tracking to net-zero emissions electricity in a province with natural gas while cutting oilpatch emissions in a big way in a short time.
Edmonton Sun Headline News
Thanks for signing up!
Article content
Advertisement 3
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Smith threatens to defy Trudeau if the PM doesn’t come off his high horse and instead sticks to his guns and tries to force his hand against Alberta.
That’s the sovereignty act move.
The premier also has little good to say about Trudeau’s pal, the Liberal green guru Steven Guilbeault, the former Greenpeace dude nicknamed the Green Jesus of Montreal for being a man on a mission for the radical environmentalist cause.
Besides, Trudeau has to do something to try to get back in the good books of Canadians in the rest of the country.
A poll from Angus Reid comes out Wednesday and provides the ugly snapshot, a picture of reality a solar system away from any Sunny Ways universe Trudeau once may have inhabited.
The nose-count shows almost three out of five Canadians want Trudeau to step down before the next election. That’s most Canadians.
Advertisement 4
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
And look at this stat.
Four out of 10 Liberal voters in the last election also want Trudeau to make his way to the exit door.
Trudeau’s Liberals trail Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives by 11 points.
Recommended from Editorial
Trudeau weighs in on Alberta debate to quit Canada Pension Plan
Bell: Trudeau government attack on Alberta, full steam ahead
Canada Pension Plan board says Alberta pension exit consults are biased, manipulative
Leong: Good reasons to be skeptical of proposed Alberta Pension Plan
Now, Trudeau knows pensions are always a touchy issue.
Even in Alberta, the latest nose-count arithmetic shows a Sherpa guide in the Himalayan mountains would see getting Albertans to a Yes on a provincial pension plan is an uphill climb.
The PM and his people read the stories. He no doubt senses an opening.
Advertisement 5
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
In the letter to Smith he says Alberta leaving the CPP would weaken the pensions of millions.
He says the harm it would cause is “undeniable.”
Trudeau, the drama teacher now casting himself as Captain Canada, will defend seniors and their Canada Pension Plan cheques.
He’s instructed his inner circle and his Ottawa paper-shufflers “to take all necessary steps” to make sure Canadians and Albertans know the risks.
His crew will do everything possible to see CPP remains intact across the country, except in Quebec where they have their own pension plan.
Smith fires back a Dear Prime Minister letter.
The premier accuses Trudeau of stoking fear in seniors.
According to the pension report Smith relies on, if Alberta was out of the CPP, Canadians outside Alberta would have to pay $175 a year more in contributions to the Canada Pension Plan.
Advertisement 6
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Smith compares those dollars to Trudeau’s carbon tax costing Canadians, after the rebate, much more than $175 a year.
The premier says Trudeau should get rid of “that inflation-inducing elephant in the room” carbon tax if he wants to protect the pocketbooks of Canadians.
Then Smith drops the gloves.
For you old-time hockey fans, seeing Alberta and Ottawa tangle is the closest you get in the political arena to watching the old brawling Philadelphia Flyers of bygone days.
Or the movie Slap Shot.
Smith says the province will not leave the CPP without a Yes in a referendum of Albertans.
But if there is a Yes, and Trudeau tries to stop the exit, it “will be seen as an attack on the constitutional and legal rights of Alberta and will be met with serious legal and political consequences.”
Advertisement 7
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Smith wants Trudeau to sit down and discuss matters “as civilized and measured leaders.”
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Gavin Young/Postmedia
Back in Medicine Hat, where she’s making a happy news announcement, Smith warms up the artillery for Guilbeault, point man on Trudeau’s green schemes.
For the premier, Guilbeault is becoming “very irritating.”
“Saying outrageous things in the newspaper to try to antagonize everyone is just irresponsible and I have to tell you I’m developing less and less patience for it.”
Smith can’t resist bringing up the Supreme Court’s ruling against much of the federal government’s law for judging the impacts on the environment of major projects.
What’s driving Trudeau?
“I think this is probably a reaction to having lost so badly and knowing we are going to defend our constitutional rights every chance we can and the Supreme Court is going to back us.”
rbell@postmedia.com
Article content
Share this article in your social network
Comments
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.
Advertisement 2
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Advertisement 1
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.