Premier Danielle Smith has reinforced her commitment to establishing a Quebec-style immigration framework for Alberta, emphasizing the need for greater provincial control over immigration policies. During her Saturday radio broadcast, Smith defended her government's decision to hold a province-wide referendum this October, which will include several questions aimed at reshaping immigration in Alberta.
Referendum Questions Target Immigration Policies
The upcoming referendum will ask Albertans to vote on multiple proposals concerning immigration. One question will gauge support for charging fees or premiums to individuals with non-permanent immigration status who access provincial health care and education services. Another will ask whether voters agree that those with non-permanent legal status should reside in Alberta for at least one year before qualifying for provincially funded programs.
Additionally, the referendum will include a question about implementing a law requiring proof of citizenship for voters in provincial elections. Smith stated, "We want Alberta taxpayers to be able to get the services that they're paying for, and for those who are not permanent residents, that they should be paying a portion of their cost. And we'll see if Albertans agree with us in the fall."
Criticism and Defense of the Proposals
Smith's announcement has drawn criticism from various quarters, including agencies that support newcomers to Canada. The opposition NDP accused the premier of scapegoating immigrants for contributing to an anticipated multibillion-dollar deficit in the upcoming provincial budget. Critics have labeled the proposals as "misguided," arguing they could unfairly target vulnerable populations.
However, Smith doubled down on her stance during the radio show, attributing Alberta's strained public services to federal immigration policies under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. She claimed that lax federal regulations led to a surge of approximately 600,000 people in Alberta's population over the past four years, overwhelming health care, education, and social services.
Modeling After Quebec's System
Smith highlighted that the proposed changes are modeled after Quebec's provincial government, which exercises significant control over recruiting "economic migrants." She argued that this approach would allow Alberta to better manage immigration in alignment with its economic needs and resource capacities.
Reflecting on the situation, Smith noted, "This wasn't a problem when I got elected back in 2022. We were actually having the opposite problem. We were at 4.9 per cent unemployment. We had a bunch of big projects that we were trying to attract skilled workers for. What happened in the intervening period is that Justin Trudeau took all of the restrictions off all of the temporary migrant programs, whether it was temporary foreign workers, international students, asylum seekers, and we just got flooded with newcomers."
The premier's remarks underscore a growing debate over immigration control in Alberta, with the referendum set to be a pivotal moment in determining the province's future policies. As discussions continue, the focus remains on balancing the needs of taxpayers with the integration of newcomers into Alberta's social and economic fabric.
