Premier Danielle Smith is trying to rewrite history.
After spending over $17 million on the massive "Alberta is Calling" ad campaign and even handing out moving bonuses at the peak of our population increase to convince people to move here.
She is now claiming the population surge is a crisis and blaming it entirely on the very immigrants she welcomed, while calling a Fall 2026 referendum to invite Albertans to join her in blaming immigrants.
The Alberta Advantage is about the founding promise that you will be measured by the content of your character and what you do for your community. Albertans know what built this province. Sign the petition to demand the Premier scrap this discriminatory referendum immediately.
FAQ: The 5 Anti-Immigration Referendum Questions and Why They Are Harmful
Click to expand.
In October 2026, the Alberta government plans to put 9 questions to a province-wide vote. Five target immigration, and four target the Canadian Constitution. Here is what they are asking, and why each one is harmful to Albertans, the economy, and vulnerable residents.
1. Do you support Alberta taking increased control over immigration to decrease it to sustainable levels, prioritizing economic migration and giving Albertans first priority on jobs?
Why it’s harmful: It promotes the false narrative that immigrants are stealing jobs, feeding directly into xenophobia. In reality, temporary residents fill essential jobs that local labor cannot fill, and employers already have to prove this need. Restricting this hurts local businesses and harms the economy.
2. Do you support a law mandating that only Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and those with "Alberta-approved immigration status" are eligible for provincially funded programs (health care, education, social services)?
Why it’s harmful: It creates a two-tiered society where people who pay the exact same taxes are denied basic human rights like healthcare and education. Furthermore, asylum seeker healthcare is already covered by the federal government—cutting off provincial access is purely punitive and pushes the burden onto emergency rooms and local charities.
3. Do you support requiring individuals with non-permanent legal immigration status to reside in Alberta for at least 12 months before qualifying for provincially funded social support programs?
Why it’s harmful: Temporary residents pay provincial taxes from day one. Denying them access to the social safety net for a year leaves them deeply vulnerable if they face sudden job loss, workplace abuse, or injury, essentially punishing them for contributing to our economy.
4. Do you support charging a reasonable fee or premium to non-permanent immigrants and their families for the use of health care and education systems?
Why it’s harmful: This is effectively a modern-day "head tax." Because temporary residents already pay income and consumption taxes that fund these systems, charging them an extra premium forces them to double-pay simply because of their immigration status.
5. Do you support a law requiring proof of citizenship (passport, birth certificate, etc.) to vote in an Alberta provincial election?
Why it’s harmful: While framed as an immigration issue, this is a classic voter suppression tactic. It risks disenfranchising marginalized, unhoused, or low-income Canadian citizens who may face significant financial or logistical barriers to acquiring a physical passport or birth certificate just to exercise their democratic rights.
FAQ: The Truth About Immigration and the Deficit
Click to expand.
Q: Will targeting temporary residents and asylum seekers save Alberta money?
A: No. The government claims this referendum will save Alberta money on healthcare and social services for asylum seekers and refugees, but this is false. The federal government or private sponsors pay for those services, not the provincial government.
Q: Are temporary residents draining our tax dollars without contributing?
A: Temporary residents, international students, and asylum seekers pay the exact same taxes as everyone else. Even the Alberta government admits temporary residents don't significantly add costs to the budget. There is no logical reason why they should pay additional taxes or fees purely due to their immigration status.
Q: Is Alberta facing a unique crisis caused by temporary residents?
A: No. Temporary residents make up less than 5% of all Alberta residents, and that number is already dropping. Furthermore, the United States, Europe, and other western countries have very similar or higher levels of temporary residents. We are not experiencing a unique crisis; we are experiencing a manufactured political distraction that feeds on racism.
Q: If immigrants aren't costing the province, why is the government focusing on them?
A: Blame shifting. The heavy focus on immigration is being used as a wedge issue to distract voters from unprecedented provincial spending, massive deficits, and rapidly declining public services. It is a smokescreen masking mismanaged funds and incompetent governance.