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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has released seven referendum questions for an October 19 provincewide vote, covering immigration, social services, healthcare, elections, and constitutional changes.
EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has released seven questions that will be put to a provincewide referendum on October 19. The questions cover immigration, social services, healthcare, elections, and constitutional amendments. The vote will allow Albertans to decide on a range of policies that could significantly reshape the province's approach to these issues.
Immigration Control and Provincial Priorities
Question 1 asks whether voters support the Alberta government taking increased control over immigration to decrease immigration to more sustainable levels, prioritize economic migration, and give Albertans first priority on new employment opportunities. Smith has said she wants Alberta to have a similar accord to Quebec, which has an agreement with Ottawa that lets the province set its own eligibility requirements for economic migrants. In February, she said a normal and sustainable level of immigration would represent less than one per cent of the population, or about 50,000 newcomers per year. Critics have said Smith has failed to plan for the population growth invited by a countrywide ad campaign in recent years.
Question 2 asks whether voters support a law mandating that only Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and individuals with an Alberta-approved immigration status will be eligible for provincially funded programs such as health care, education, and other social services. The premier has blamed overburdened public services on rapid population growth in the past five years. The government's website claims temporary residents cost the province more than $1 billion in health care, education, and social services, but critics say those numbers do not add up and that the government is ignoring the economic contributions and benefits they bring to Alberta. The specific effect of a yes vote is unclear, since the government says it will not define Alberta-approved immigration status until after the referendum.
Waiting Periods and Fees for Non-Permanent Residents
Question 3 asks whether voters support a law requiring all individuals with a non-permanent legal immigration status to reside in Alberta for at least 12 months before qualifying for any provincially funded social support programs, assuming that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify as they do now. The government says it will not determine which programs would be affected until after the referendum, should Albertans vote yes. Temporary workers are already ineligible for some provincial programs, such as Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped, and the Canadian Bar Association's provincial chapter says this could run afoul of the Canada Health Act or the Charter's equality provisions.
Question 4 asks whether voters support the Alberta government charging a reasonable fee or premium to individuals with a non-permanent immigration status living in Alberta for their and their family's use of the health care and education systems, assuming that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify as they do now. A potential new charge will not be determined by the government until after the vote, though the premier told Calgary business leaders on Sept. 22 that a health premium could be as much as $1,900. Education leaders in the province have come out against restricting access to schooling, saying it goes against internationally agreed-to children's rights.
Voting Requirements and Constitutional Amendments
Question 5 asks whether voters support a law requiring individuals to provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate, or citizenship card, to vote in an Alberta provincial election. Voting is already restricted to Canadian citizens, and both Elections Canada and Elections Alberta have reported very few cases of ineligible voting. Smith has said it is about strengthening the integrity of provincial elections, but critics say this policy will only make lineups at the polls more time-consuming and open the door to racial or ethnic bias at the voting booth.
Question 6 asks whether voters support the Alberta government working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to have provincial governments, and not the federal government, select the justices appointed to provincial King's Bench and Appeal courts. If approved by voters, this proposal would only commit Alberta's government to working with other provinces and federal lawmakers to make changes to the Canadian Constitution. Constitutional changes generally need approval from seven provincial legislatures covering 50 per cent of Canada's population, as well as from the House of Commons and Senate in Ottawa.
Question 7 asks whether voters support the Alberta government working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to abolish the unelected federal Senate. Abolishing the Senate would be even more difficult than other general constitutional amendments, as it would require broad provincial and federal consent. This question, like the others, will be decided by voters on October 19.
Alberta Referendum Danielle Smith Immigration Healthcare Constitutional Amendments Voting Requirements Social Services
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