Pensions in Alberta

Updates

On September 21, 2023, Alberta's government released an independent report on a potential Alberta Pension Plan and launched an engagement panel to share the report with Albertans and seek their feedback, questions and concerns.

Read the report and learn more at albertapensionplan.ca.

Below are updates from the Superintendent of Pensions.

• The following documents have been updated to reflect the 2024 YMPE (Year’s Maximum Pensionable Earnings), and Financial Hardship Unlocking program updates – effective January 1, 2024; posted January 2, 2024:
  • Interest Rate Tables
  • Accessing Pension Funds
  • General program and process
  • Reasons to unlock
  • Application to Unlock Alberta Funds Due to Financial Hardship (Form 23) (fillable version) – effective January 1, 2024
    Note: if you have trouble opening this form, you may use the non-fillable version, which you may print and complete by hand.
• Superintendent's List of Financial Institutions offering Locked-in Pension Products –  February 1, 2024
• Effective November 30, 2023, Chris Merriman is the Acting Assistant Deputy Minister of Financial Sector Regulation and Policy (FSRP), and the Superintendent of Pensions, Insurance, and Financial Institutions. See the announcement – December 14, 2023
• EPPA Update 23-01: Filing Fee for Pension Plans effective October 1, 2023 – September 21, 2023
• EPPA Update 22-02: Filing Fee for Pension Plans effective October 1, 2022 – September 28, 2022
  In accordance with Section 153 of the Employment Pension Plans Regulation, the Superintendent of Pensions advises that the annual filing fee rate in Alberta effective October 1, 2022 is $2 per member.
• Private sector pension laws consultation – posted May 30, 2022; feedback due by July 29, 2022
  • We are gathering feedback from stakeholders to help inform potential legislative and policy updates to ensure private sector pension laws best meet the needs of Albertans. Legislation governing private sector pensions hasn't been significantly updated since 2014 and recent stakeholder feedback identified challenges that may be contributing to increased costs and volatility, reduced pension plan coverage and hardships for retirees.
  • Stakeholder input on innovation and modernization, funding, and reducing red tape will help us identify opportunities to improve Alberta’s competitiveness by addressing gaps in the Employment Pension Plans Act and Employment Pension Plans Regulation.
  • Pension benefit amounts, which are established by a plan sponsor, are not changing and do not fall under the scope of this engagement.
  • This work supports the 2022-2025 Treasury Board and Finance Business Plan key objective to keep legislation, regulations and policies current and aligned with government’s red tape reduction initiative.
  • Please read the Private Sector Pensions Review Consultation Paper and email your feedback to [email protected] by July 29, 2022.
• EPPA Update 22-01: Online Filing of Wind-up Reports and Letters of Credit – April 21, 2022

Types of pensions in Alberta

There are several types of pensions for people in the province of Alberta. Most pension plans fall into one of 4 categories:

Private sector employment pensions

Private sector employment pensions are pension plans established by private sector employers (or groups of employers or unions) for their employees. For more information, see Pension plans registered under the Employment Pension Plans Act.

Public sector employment pensions

Public sector employment pensions are pension plans for employees working in the public sector, (provincial and municipal public service, health and education).

Effective March 1, 2019, some public sector pension plans are governed under the Employment Pension Plans Act (EPPA). Learn more about joint governance of public sector pension plans.

Retirement income programs administered by the federal government for Canadians

Further information on the following programs is available from the federal government. The provinces are joint stewards of the Canada Pension Plan along with the federal government, and help establish policy for the Canada Pension Plan.

• Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
• Old Age Security (OAS)
• Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)

Alberta Seniors Benefits Program

This program provides support in addition to the federal benefits received under Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement, Federal Allowance and the GST credit. It is based on income and provides monthly benefits to eligible seniors. For details, see Alberta Seniors Benefit Program.

For information on other benefits and programs, see: Quick Facts - Programs and Services for Seniors.

Federally regulated pension plans

Please note that pension plans established by companies in federally regulated industries (such as banks, airlines, and telecommunications companies) are governed by the federal pension standards legislation, the Pension Benefits Standards Act, (1985) (Canada).
 
The federal government's Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions is the primary regulator and supervisor of federally regulated private sector pension plans. The federal government also manages the pension plans for federal public service employees.

Accessing pension funds

For information on accessing pension funds, see Information for individuals - Unlocking pension funds.

Related websites

Private sector plans (current and former members)

• Federal - Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI)
• British Columbia Financial Services Authority (BCFSA)
• Manitoba Pension Commission
• New Brunswick Financial and Consumer Services Commission
• Newfoundland and Labrador Pensions Division
• Nova Scotia Pension Regulation Division
• Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO)
• Retrait Québec
• Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan

Alberta public sector pension plans

• Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo)
• Alberta Pensions Services Corporation (APS)
• Alberta Teachers' Retirement Fund Board (ATRF)
• Local Authorities Pension Plan (LAPP)
• Management Employees Pension Plan (MEPP)
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP)
• Special Forces Pension Plan (SFPP)

Government of Canada pension related sites

• Bank of Canada
• Canada Revenue Agency
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
• Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
• Old Age Security Program (OAS)
• Statistics Canada

Other pension related sites

• Association of Canadian Pension Management (ACPM)
• Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities (CAPSA)
• Canadian Institute of Actuaries (CIA)
• Chartered Professional Accountants of Alberta
• Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada
• Canadian Securities Administrators
• Money Mentors (Credit Counselling Services of Alberta Ltd.)
• Rotman International Centre for Pension Management

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Contact

Pension plans registered under the Employment Pension Plans Act (EPPA)

Connect with the Office of the Alberta Superintendent of Pensions:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-8322 
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]

Address:
Alberta Superintendent of Pensions
Alberta Treasury Board and Finance
Financial Sector Regulation and Policy
402 Terrace Building
9515 107 Street
Edmonton, Alberta  T5K 2C3

Public sector pensions

Contact the following for information on:

• Alberta Teachers’ Pension Plans: Alberta Teachers’ Retirement Fund Board
• Local Authorities Pension Plan: LAPP Contact
• Public Service Pension Plan: PSPP Contact
• Special Forces Pension Plan: SFPP Contact
• Universities Academic Pension Plan: UAPP Contact
• All other Alberta Public Sector Pension Plans: Alberta Pensions Services Corporation
• Federal pension plans: Canada Pension Plan or Old Age Security