Alberta Pension Plan - Printable Benefits Information

Alberta Pension Plan (APP) Benefits

Double your retirement income

Federal law requires that a province choosing to opt out of the CPP must offer a publicly funded, universal plan of pensions and disability benefits similar to the CPP.

To provide Albertans with the same benefits as the CPP, Alberta could safely cut premiums by one-fifth (from 9.9% of pension-able earnings to 8%), due to Alberta’s young population and strong economy. (See tables 1 and 2 below)

The proposed plan would see the APP savings (i.e. the 1.9% of pension-able earnings) invested in a government-regulated “supplementary plan” belonging to individual contributors.

The Government of Alberta would increase this 1.9% contribution by adding an additional .95% from provincial resource revenues (see table 3 below). This would only cost the provincial government an amount similar to one-third of a round of “Ralph Bucks” (approximately $500 million).

A 20-year-old entering the Alberta workforce in 2011 (the earliest an Alberta Pension Plan could be incorporated) would almost certainly double the earnings they would receive from the CPP over the same time period. Also, to do this they would not have to pay one dollar more than he or she is paying today into the CPP.

Table 4 below shows how much this private “supplementary” account would add to a worker’s CPP-equivalent benefit due to compounding of interest.

Advantages of an APP to Alberta workers

Someone starting out in the work force today and working until age 60 (as many now do) would conceivably receive triple what they could get from the CPP, and could rely on the APP as a sufficient retirement plan in itself. (Benefits to older workers would be correspondingly less.)

Advantages to Alberta businesses

The APP would significantly strengthen the flow of needed workers into Alberta.
It would make every worker a private investor, mindful of his capital earnings and sympathetic to the needs of private enterprise.
The capital funds built up over time to secure the APP would create a major new source of local investment capital. Though there should be no statutory requirement for the fund to invest locally, it would still have a positive effect on Alberta’s economy.

Advantages to the Government of Alberta

A provincial pension plan resulting in a significant pension fund will form the permanent financial and political foundation of a new Alberta, just as it has for Quebec since the 1960s.
The APP would require the provincial government to manage public revenues more carefully, and save more money.
It would create a stronger sense of provincial purpose and identity among Albertans, young and old.
It would send a salutary message to Ottawa and the people of Canada about strengthening Alberta’s place in Confederation.

Table 1

Current Contribution Rates for the Canada Pension Plan

Employer	4.95%
Employee	4.95%

Total	9.90%

Table 2

Projected Alberta Pension Plan Contribution Rates for equivalent benefits*

Employer	4.0%
Employee	4.0%

Total	8.0%

Savings of APP against CPP - 1.9%

*Mean of Fraser Institute projection and CPP Chief Actuary's projection based on a much Younger Population than the CPP with better Economic Growth.

Table 3

Contribution rates of the APP Basic Plan (CPP equivalent) and Supplementary Plan

	Basic Plan	Supplementary Plan	Total
Employer	4.0%	0.95%	4.95%
Employee	4.0%	0.95%	4.95%
Provincial Govt.	NIL	0.95%	0.95%

Total	8.0%	2.85%	10.85%

The Provincial Government contribution from resource revenues would be initially less that $500 million a year.

Supplementary Plan

The table below contains calculated projections for the additional benefits (forming part of the APP) in the form of a lump sum at age 65.

Since it would be at least January 1, 2011 before the APP would be up and running (assuming 3 years notice would be provided in 2007), we have based the Earnings on 2011.

We have also used investment returns of 4%, 6% and 8% on the 0.95% of contributions from the employer, employee and the Province.

Table 4

Accumulated funds at age 65

	Age in 2011
Earnings in 2011		20	30	40	50	60

Interest at 4.00%
20,000		107,241	58,231	28,971	12,068	2,780
30,000		167,008	91,087	45,571	19,119	4,445
40,000		226,774	123,942	62,172	26,169	6,110
50,000		279,399	152,872	76,788	32,378	7,576

Interest at 6.00%
20,000		173,040	83,673	37,278	13,982	2,915
30,000		270,459	131,219	58,728	22,165	4,661
40,000		367,878	178,764	80,178	30,349	6,407
50,000		453,656	220,628	99,065	37,554	7,945

Interest at 8.00%
20,000		292,434	123,599	48,607	16,261	3,056
30,000		458,624	194,304	76,689	25,795	4,888
40,000		624,815	265,009	104,771	35,329	6,719
50,000		771,146	327,264	129,497	43,723	8,331

The Provincial Government contribution from resource revenues would be initially less that $500 million a year.

Supplementary Plan Calculator

Enter Your Age in 2011:

Enter Your Estimated Annual Earnings in 2011:


Rates of Return	MPP balance at age 65