“We’re hearing from people. They want to know what the number will be,” Smith told reporters Wednesday after a speech to the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.
“Albertans will have a hard number.
“I’m not going to go to a referendum if people don’t have the information that they need in order to make a decision.”
Smith said the number may come by agreement with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board or may have to be hashed out before a judge.
“It may have to be a court decision because this is legislated under the CPP Act,” said Smith.
“And if the federal government and the CPPIB will not come to the table and talk with us in a reasonable way to get us that number, then we’ll probably have to go to a court decision.”
Opposition NDP house leader Christina Gray said Albertans deserve to know the firm numbers before casting a ballot. She said her caucus will hold Smith to her word.
“We need to continue to hold their feet to the fire because they are continuing to push an agenda that Albertans don’t support (on the CPP),” said Gray.
Smith launched the debate on Sept. 21 by releasing a government-commissioned report from consultant LifeWorks.
Economists and analysts have delivered counter-figures.
The province has hired former provincial treasurer Jim Dinning to engage with Albertans to gauge their views on the topic and then make a recommendation to Smith next spring on whether there is an appetite for a referendum on leaving CPP.
Dinning’s panel is also not tasked in writing with advising Smith on whether Albertans want to leave the CPP.
Instead, Dinning is mandated to provide information and recommendations on what is top of mind for Albertans when “considering an APP.”
In recent days, the issue has gained traction across the country.
Also Wednesday, federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland agreed to convene a meeting with provincial and territorial finance ministers to discuss Alberta’s CPP-exit proposal.
The decision came after Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy called for a meeting in a letter to Freeland, saying Alberta’s withdrawal could cause “serious harm over the long term to working people and retirees in Ontario and across Canada.”
Last week, Trudeau said his government will fight to retain the stability and integrity of the CPP, while Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre encouraged Albertans to stay in the federal nest-egg fund.