On Oct. 19, Albertans will head to the polls to vote in a referendum. The questions will focus on three different political topics: immigration, the Constitution, and Alberta’s separation.
It is important to note that this referendum is not the official yes-or-no vote on Alberta leaving Canada. October’s results will indicate whether the Alberta government should proceed with the constitutional process required to hold an official, binding referendum on Alberta’s separation.
Do you support the Government of Alberta taking increased control over immigration for the purposes of decreasing immigration to more sustainable levels, prioritizing economic migration and giving Albertans first priority on new employment opportunities?
To lower immigration levels, the Government of Alberta (GoA) would focus on selecting immigrants based on their work experience, as well as those with experience in essential jobs. Increased control would also give Alberta citizens, particularly youth, opportunities for entry-level jobs before immigrants.
Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing 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?
Provincially-funded programs are managed by the provincial government and are meant to be accountable to Alberta taxpayers.
This question is asking if the province should take these programs away from anyone who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Notably, the programs would be unavailable to international students.
Assuming that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify for social support programs as they do now, do you support the Government of Alberta introducing 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?
Every non-permanent resident would be required to live in Alberta for 12 months before they can access any of the programs. Programs such as student aid and other funding would be affected.
Assuming that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify for public health care and education as they do now, do you support the Government of Alberta 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?
Would require non-permanent residents to pay a fee when they or their families use programs like healthcare or public education.
Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing 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?
Would require voters to have a passport, birth certificate, or citizenship card to vote. Previously, voters only needed a government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or two forms of ID, both with a photo and one having your current address.
Do you support the Government of Alberta 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?
The Court of Appeal serves as the highest level of court in Alberta, while the Court of King’s Bench is the superior trial court focusing on civil and criminal cases. Both courts play a large role in both provincial and constitutional law. Both courts are currently appointed by the federal government with the intention of maintaining a united Canada, while also giving provinces the sovereignty to make choices and govern themselves.
Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to abolish the unelected federal Senate?
Currently, the Senate is appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister, and each province and territory holds a certain number of seats. There are a total of 105 seats in the Canadian Senate, and Alberta has six. For comparison, Ontario and Quebec have 24 each, and Nova Scotia has four more seats than Alberta, despite Alberta’s larger population. Five of the six Alberta seats were appointed without consultation with the province, bypassing Alberta’s Senate Election Act, which “provides a process” for Alberta voters to elect Senate nominees.
Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to allow provinces to opt out of federal programs that intrude on provincial jurisdiction such as health care, education and social services, without a province losing any of the associated federal funding for use in its social programs?
This question asks if you believe Alberta should opt out of certain federal programs, but still receive federal tax dollars meant for those specific programs.
Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to better protect provincial rights from federal interference by giving a province’s laws dealing with provincial or shared areas of constitutional jurisdiction priority over federal laws when the province’s laws and federal laws conflict?
Sometimes, implemented federal laws and regulations overlap with previous provincial laws and regulations. In this case, the federal government takes authority. This happens primarily in the realms of the environment, immigration, and agriculture. This question aims to flip this system and give provincial governments default authority.
Should Alberta remain a province of Canada, or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?
This question will have two options. “No, Alberta should remain a province of Canada”; or “yes, the provincial government should move forward with a binding referendum on Alberta separation.”
The GoA advises Albertans to vote to stay in Canada and to focus their efforts on “building a stronger and more sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.”
Applications to vote by mail are now open and will close on Oct. 9. Special ballots can be received by mail or be picked up from Elections Alberta’s head office on Sept. 1. Voting locations will be open on Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
