Beyond the Chatter: Calgary's Data-Driven Truths on Immigration, Pensions, and Land Rights
Immigration: Powering Calgary's Growth and Healthcare
In a city as dynamic as Calgary, understanding the true impact of immigration is crucial. Far from diminishing healthcare, immigrants are vital to Canada's health sector, comprising 25% of registered nurses, 42% of nurse aides, and 37% of physicians, directly addressing critical labour shortages. Calgary's remarkable 6.0 percent population increase in 2024, the highest in Canada, is significantly fuelled by international immigration, bolstering the economy and easing demands in sectors like healthcare and construction. The Alberta government actively recruits immigrant healthcare professionals through initiatives like the Dedicated Healthcare Pathway, with 142 healthcare workers invited in recent draws, underscoring their essential contribution.
Public Sector Salaries: A Look at the Numbers
Discussions around public sector compensation are common, but the figures reveal a different picture. Teachers in Canada typically earn annual salaries ranging from approximately $55,000 to $100,000, with variations based on province, experience, and qualifications. Similarly, registered nurses earn an average annual salary between $78,546 and $103,381, influenced by location and specialization. These ranges reflect professional compensation for demanding roles, not excessive pay.
The Alberta Pension Plan: A Proposal on Hold
The debate surrounding Alberta's potential withdrawal from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) for an Alberta Pension Plan (APP) remains a significant provincial discussion. While Alberta estimated its share of CPP assets to be over $300 billion, federal actuarial estimates place it closer to $135 billion. However, public appetite appears low; a 2023 provincial survey quietly released in June 2025 showed 63% of respondents opposed leaving the CPP, compared to only 10% in favour. Consequently, Premier Danielle Smith indicated in May 2025 that a referendum on the APP is currently on the 'back burner for now.'
Understanding Indigenous Land Rights in Alberta
The notion that "Indigenous land is Canada's land" starkly contradicts the legal and historical reality of Indigenous rights. Much of Canada consists of unceded Indigenous territories, and Aboriginal title and rights are recognized and protected under the Canadian Constitution Act, 1982. The entire province of Alberta is covered by Treaties, and these obligations are ongoing. Recently, in October 2025, four Treaty 8 First Nations launched a legal challenge against a provincial Crown land sale, citing insufficient consultation and a breach of their Treaty rights. This underscores the continuous efforts to uphold Treaty commitments and Indigenous sovereignty, a principle reflected in the City of Calgary's own Social Wellbeing Policy committed to advancing Truth and Reconciliation.
