Freeland to meet with provincial finance ministers on possible Alberta CPP withdrawal

OTTAWA - Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says she will meet provincial and territorial finance ministers later this week to discuss the possibility of Alberta's withdrawal from the Canada Pension Plan. A letter from Freeland to her counterparts says she is convening the virtual meeting on Friday to speak to what she calls flaws underlying Alberta's proposed exit formula. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said last week her government stands by its assertion that the province deserves $334 billion if it leaves the CPP, which represents more than half of the plan's assets. A throne speech from Smith's government on Monday did not mention the proposed withdrawal, and the premier said a promised referendum might not happen if public consultation suggests the idea isn't popular. The Alberta government has been advertising the benefits that it says could come to Albertans with a transfer out of the CPP, but economists and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board say the amount Alberta would