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- calendar_today October 14, 2026
Former Alberta Premiers Oppose Immigration Questions Ahead of Referendum
Three former Alberta premiers—Ed Stelmach, Alison Redford, and Rachel Notley—are calling on voters to reject five immigration-related questions appearing on the October 19 referendum ballot. They argue the questions target immigrants and pose significant risks to Alberta’s continued prosperity.
Details of the Immigration Questions
The questions, introduced by the United Conservative Party (UCP) government, propose several changes: increasing provincial control over immigration, limiting non-permanent residents' eligibility for public and social services, and requiring proof of citizenship to vote in provincial elections. The UCP advocates a “yes” vote, citing the strain Alberta’s rapid population growth has placed on healthcare and education systems.
Concerns Over Economic and Humanitarian Impact
In a joint opinion published by the Calgary Herald, the three former premiers warned the measures could cause “economic harm” by making Alberta less attractive to the skilled workers it needs. “If the measures are adopted, each could have harmful and unintended effects,” they wrote. For Ed Stelmach, Alberta's first premier of Ukrainian descent, the issue is personal—he reflected on his own family’s immigrant history and his experience welcoming Ukrainian refugees to Alberta in 2022.
Debate Over Provincial Immigration Control and Policy
The UCP government argues that Ottawa’s immigration policies have negatively affected Alberta’s ability to fund public services, stating that a significant increase in newcomers has direct and costly impacts on social services. In response to these pressures, Alberta’s population grew by about 600,000 people from July 2021 to July 2026, with two-thirds of that growth attributed to international migration. However, the former premiers emphasize that taxes paid by immigrants help support critical health and social services. They believe the referendum questions “take complex policy issues and confound them into confusing, contradictory questions that are hard to decipher.”
Economic Contributions of Immigrants
Stelmach, Redford, and Notley stressed that “by nearly every economic measure, immigrants are a boon to Alberta’s economy.” They cited a Calgary Chamber of Commerce report showing labor shortages across the majority of Alberta businesses. As the province anticipates new projects—such as the Pacific Link pipeline—that may require more skilled workers, Stelmach recalled being thankful for newcomers: "We just couldn't keep up with the pressures of growth, especially for labour.” The former premiers caution that adopting the proposed measures could threaten Alberta's ability to attract the talent needed to sustain economic progress.
Referendum Vote and Public Dialogue
The UCP’s referendum website frames the questions as a way to make services “more sustainable, accessible and affordable” amid population pressures. Premier Danielle Smith has characterized non-citizen residents as "temporary and tourists." CBC News has reached out to her office for comment. As the referendum vote approaches, the call from three former premiers—across political lines—highlights the ongoing public debate about immigration policies, public services access, and the economic impact of new Albertans.
Source: cbc.ca.
