In Alberta, a termination following a failed Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is generally considered a termination "without cause" (or "without just cause"), unless the poor performance was rooted in severe, willful misconduct.
While employers often argue that failing to meet PIP goals constitutes "cause" to avoid paying severance, Alberta law sets a very high bar for "just cause" (serious misconduct like theft, fraud, or blatant, repeated insubordination).