Three former Alberta premiers are asking voters to reject the five immigration-related questions on the province's Oct. 19 referendum ballot. Ed Stelmach, Alison Redford and Rachel Notley made their argument in a joint submission published Wednesday by the Calgary Herald and Edmonton Journal, according to CBC.
The three former leaders — Stelmach and Redford, both former Progressive Conservative premiers, and Notley, a former NDP premier — wrote that the measures single out immigrants and represent what they called a clear and present threat to Alberta's continued prosperity.
The ballot questions propose giving the province more authority over immigration currently held by the federal government, restricting non-permanent residents' access to public and social services, and asking whether voters should have to prove citizenship before casting a ballot in a provincial election.
Why it matters
The referendum has become a test of how Alberta frames its relationship with Ottawa and with the newcomers who have driven much of its recent population growth. The governing United Conservative Party is campaigning for a "yes" vote on the five immigration questions, arguing that rapid population growth has strained health care and education. The former premiers argue the opposite case: that the questions could damage the economy and the province's reputation as a place to build a career.
Their intervention also carries unusual weight because Stelmach has rarely commented on politics since leaving office in 2011. He told CBC News he felt he had to speak up because the immigration questions hit close to home.
A personal appeal from Stelmach
Stelmach, who was Alberta's first premier of Ukrainian descent, said he is the grandson of an immigrant and credited Canada's openness for his own family's presence in the country. He said he does not know what would have become of his family otherwise.
He recalled watching newcomers step off an aircraft in Edmonton to start new lives in Alberta, and he helped welcome dozens of Ukrainian refugees in 2022 after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine that February. Stelmach described looking at the faces of children and parents and wondering what would have happened to them without Canada and Alberta opening their doors.
The former premiers wrote that the taxes immigrants pay help fund critical health and social services, listing that among the contributions newcomers make. They pointed to recent economic analysis from the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, cited in their op-ed, showing that most Alberta businesses are struggling with labour shortages.
Stelmach also noted that several major projects are on the horizon, including the Pacific Link pipeline, which he said could usher in a period of rapid growth requiring many skilled workers.
What the province says
In an emailed statement to CBC News, the premier's press secretary said the immigration questions address what the government calls unsustainable immigration levels in Canada that are putting real pressure on critical public services. The statement said the questions reflect feedback gathered from Albertans during the Alberta Next townhalls.
The press secretary said the government supports Alberta taking more control over immigration so that it is sustainable, prioritizes economic migrants, puts Albertans first for jobs in their communities, and ensures social services serve Albertans first. The statement added that newcomers have always played an important role in the province's success and that this will not change.
On its referendum website, the province says it is gauging feedback on immigration questions 2 through 4 in order to make services more sustainable, accessible and affordable.
After announcing the referendum questions in February, Premier Danielle Smith said temporary individuals should be treated as temporary and as tourists, according to CBC.
The numbers behind the debate
Alberta's population grew by roughly 600,000 between July 2021 and July 2026, with two-thirds of that increase coming from international migration, according to CBC. The pace has slowed since Ottawa introduced several policies aimed at reducing it, including lower caps on international students and temporary residents.
The province has said Ottawa's immigration policies are unsustainable and have harmed Alberta's ability to fund and deliver services such as health care and education, arguing this directly affects residents' access and costs taxpayers billions of dollars.
The former premiers acknowledged that immigration policy is a legitimate subject for debate but argued the referendum is the wrong venue. They wrote that the five propositions take complicated policy matters and combine them into questions that are confusing, contradictory and difficult to interpret.
Turnout and public opinion
Albertans appear engaged with the vote. More than 174,530 people cast ballots on the first day of advance polls, CBC reported. Mayors in the province told CTV News they were pleased to see the strong early turnout.
A CityNews Calgary poll found that voters in Calgary and Edmonton largely support remaining in Canada.
The referendum campaign has also drawn attention to internal conversations among separatist supporters, with the Calgary Herald reporting on what Premier Danielle Smith told Alberta separatists behind closed doors.
What to watch
Voters head to the polls on Oct. 19, when all ten referendum questions will be decided. The immigration measures are questions 2 through 4, with the citizenship requirement for provincial elections among the others on the ballot. The result will shape how much control Alberta seeks over immigration — and how the province's political class, including three of its former first ministers, reads the public's answer.
