Alberta launches website pushing referendum proposals on immigration, Constitution

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has launched a website to put the weight of the government's persuasive powers behind getting a democratic mandate for sweeping immigration reform.

Smith said Thursday it's about ensuring Albertans have the information they need to understand the effect of a yes vote on her government's nine referendum proposals, which are to be put to a vote Oct. 19.

"I'm not going to just be a bystander in this," Smith said. "We're going to be out actively persuading the public that this is the direction we want to go, but we want an endorsement from them."

She said she anticipates her United Conservative Party government will get a majority backing its ideas but didn't commit to abandoning them in the event of a no vote. 

"I'll judge it at that time."

Smith reiterated that an influx of newcomers to the province has put pressure on housing, health care and education, and blown a hole in the provincial budget. She laid the blame on what she called the Justin Trudeau-led federal Liberal government's unsustainable approach.

The referendum proposals include limiting health care and education only to those newcomers with "Alberta-approved immigration status," and charging non-permanent residents a "reasonable fee" for health care and education. 

Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said the premier is wasting taxpayer dollars to put her thumb on the scale.

"That means the entire referendum is a farce," he told reporters.

He said the process is an attempt to blame newcomers for Smith's inability to keep pace with a population boom that has subsided.

Nenshi said Smith is also trying to distract from a separatist effort that has sparked fierce debate in the province since last April's federal election.

"And no matter what happens, she's going to do whatever she wants, anyway," he said.

Elections Alberta has estimated that it will cost it about as much as a provincial general election to hold the provincewide vote, noting the 2023 general election cost about almost $37 million. 

The government didn't provide the cost of the website Thursday but said work is ongoing and final costs will be reported.

The premier's announcement comes after her government proposed legislation this week to abandon the province’s twice-a-year clock changes, moving Alberta onto permanent daylight time, despite Albertans narrowly rejecting the idea in a 2021 referendum.

The UCP has said times have changed since then, and the province now needs to line up with neighbouring jurisdictions who have recently made the change. Smith has reiterated that the wording of the previous referendum question was confusing.

Still, Nenshi said the premier ignored the results because "she doesn't care about democracy."

Smith's government has already moved on some policies that coincide with some of her government's questions, including taking more control over immigration.

One government bill proposed early this month, if passed, will require businesses to register with the province before enlisting foreign nationals through the federal temporary foreign worker program.

Smith said that bill is about making sure immigration consultants are delivering on what they promise foreign recruits, and if her government gets a mandate from the referendum, she'll aim to go further.

She said she wants a system similar to Quebec, so Alberta can have more control over choosing the economic migrants coming into the province.

Other proposed referendum questions aim to establish support for constitutional changes, including abolishing the Senate and Alberta gaining control over the appointment of provincial court judges.

The new website unveiled Thursday offers ballpark estimates of what temporary residents cost the province in social services and health-care delivery, coming to a figure of $1 billion annually. That figure includes $600 million in education operating costs for approximately 46,000 children of temporary residents.

The website notes health costs are "less precise to track," but there are tens of thousands of doctor and emergency room visits costing about $400 million.

Smith said in 2025, temporary workers generated only $150 million in tax revenue.

"That's not how it's supposed to work," she said.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson