I was thinking of this the entire evening. Maybe there's rebuttal to this point? So they're talking of opening the fund up to the public as a retail product. They've stated that the mandate would be to give market returns. This way, the average individual buys into the fund as well (I would for sure). THAT is how the public becomes interested in the fund's survival and growth as it is for the CPP.

Let's say the Tories get in next election. If the fund is giving good returns, then the toriest of Tory voter would get out on the streets if there is even a whiff of the government dissolving it. Now I am exaggerating here, but the point I'm trying to make is that opening it up to retail investors ensures public interest in the fund's continued existence and expansion.