Alberta Residents Face Ten Referendum Questions This October

While much attention on Oct. 19 is directed at whether Alberta should consider separating from Canada, Premier Danielle Smith has several other questions for residents to weigh in on.

Some questions are about immigration, while others focus on potential constitutional reforms Smith wants the province to think about.

Here’s a look at the questions that will be up for a provincewide vote on Oct. 19.

Question 1: Do you support the government of Alberta gaining more control over immigration to lower it to more sustainable levels, focusing on economic migration and giving priority to Albertans for new job opportunities?

What you need to know: Smith has expressed her desire for Alberta to have an agreement like Quebec’s with Ottawa, which allows provinces to set their own criteria for economic migrants.

In February, she mentioned that a “normal” and “sustainable” level of immigration would be under one percent of the population, or around 50,000 newcomers annually. Critics argue that Smith hasn’t adequately planned for the population growth prompted by recent national advertising campaigns.

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Question 2: Do you support the government of Alberta implementing a law that would only allow Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and individuals with an Alberta-approved immigration status to access provincially funded programs like health care and education?

What you need to know: The premier has pointed fingers at rapid population growth over the past five years as a cause of strain on public services.

The government’s website claims temporary residents cost over $1 billion in health care and social services. However, critics argue these figures don’t hold up and overlook the positive economic contributions made by these residents.

The specific implications of a yes vote remain unclear since “Alberta-approved immigration status” won’t be defined until after the referendum.

2:04 Critics accuse Alberta referendum of ‘demonizing’ immigrants

Question 3: Assuming all Canadian citizens and permanent residents continue qualifying for social support programs as they do now, do you support introducing a law requiring all individuals with non-permanent legal immigration status to live in Alberta for at least 12 months before becoming eligible for any provincially funded social support programs?

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What you need to know: The government states it won’t specify which programs would be impacted until after the referendum if Albertans approve this change.

Certain temporary workers are already excluded from some provincial benefits such as Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped. The provincial chapter of the Canadian Bar Association suggests this could conflict with either the Canada Health Act or equality provisions in the Charter.

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Question 4: Assuming all Canadian citizens and permanent residents still qualify for public health care and education as they do now, do you support charging reasonable fees or premiums from those with non-permanent immigration status living in Alberta when using healthcare or education services?

What you need to know: Any potential new charge wouldn’t be decided until after voters cast their ballots; however, during a meeting with Calgary business leaders on Sept. 22, Smith mentioned that health premiums might reach $1,900.

Skeptics among educational leaders oppose limiting access because they believe it contradicts internationally recognized children’s rights.

Question 5: Do you back introducing legislation requiring individuals provide proof of citizenship-like a passport or birth certificate-to vote in an Alberta provincial election?

What you need to know: Voting is currently restricted only to Canadian citizens; both Elections Canada and Elections Alberta report few instances of people voting without eligibility.

This initiative aims at enhancing electoral integrity according to Smith; however critics worry it could lead to longer lines at polling stations and possibly introduce racial or ethnic biases during voting processes.

Question 6 : Do you endorse collaborating with other willing provinces in amending Canada’s Constitution so that provincial governments-and not federal ones-choose justices appointed for provincial King’s Bench and Appeal courts ?

What you need t o k now : If voters approve this proposal , it will only commit A lberta’s government t o collaborating w ith o ther provinces along w ith federal lawmakers t o make constitutional changes.

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Constitutional amendments typically require approval f rom seven provincial legislatures representing fifty percent o f Canada’s population , plus endorsements from both t he House o f Commons and Senate i n Ottawa.

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1:51 Alberta separatism proponent shares transition plan for independence

Question7 : D o y ou support A lberta working w ith other willing provinces t o change t he C anadian Constitution i n order t o get rid o f t he unelected federal Senate?

What y ou n eed t o k now : Getting rid O F t he Senate W O uld b e m uch more challenging than standard constitutional amendments. I T would require unanimous consent f rom every province along w ith ratification by both h ou ses O F Parliament.<

Q uestion8 : D O Y OU su Pport Al BERTA’s gov Ernment wor King wi Th ot Her wil Ling Provinces To mo Dify THe Ca Nadia N Co Nstitution To Allow Provinces TO opt out Of Fe Der AL Pr Ogr Ams That infringe On Pro Vincial Ju Ris DIction Such As He Alth c Are , Educ At ION And SOcial Services Without Losing any related Federal Funding?

Wh At Yo U ne ED TO kn OW : Th E Fed ERAL “spen Di Ng pow Er ” En Ab Les Ot TAw A To Im Pose c On Di Tions ON Fund Ing FOR pr OVin Ce S ; He Al TH Car E Fu NDIng UNDER Th E Can Ada Hea Lth Ac T Is A prim Ary Ex Am Ple.

A per Manent prov Incial op T-Ou T Cla Use Wo Uld req Uire am End Ment OF th E Const Itution.

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<P QUESTION9 DO YOU SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA WORKING WITH OTHER WILLING PROVINCES TO AMEND THE CANADIAN CONSTITUTION TO BETTER PROTECT PROVINCIAL RIGHTS FROM FEDERAL INTERFERENCE BY GIVING PRIORITY TO PROVINCIAL LAWS IN CASES OF CONFLICT? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW UNDER THE CONSTITUTION FEDERAL LAWS TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER PROVINCIAL LAWS WHEN DISPUTES ARISE THIS CHANGE WOULD REQUIRE APPROVAL FROM BOTH SENATE AND HOUSE OF COMMONS AS WELL AS SEVEN PROVINCES REPRESENTING AT LEAST HALF OF THE COUNTRY’S POPULATION?

<P QUESTION10 SHOULD ALBERTA REMAIN PART OF CANADA OR SHOULD IT START THE LEGAL PROCESS REQUIRED FOR HOLDING A BINDING REFERENDUM ON SEPARATION? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW SUPPORTERS SAY THIS SEPARATION WOULD REMOVE FEDERAL TAXES AND REGULATIONS ENABLING ECONOMIC GROWTH WHILE OPPOSED ARGUE THAT IT WOULD HARM BUSINESSES AND RESULT IN DEBT AS WELL AS HIGH COSTS FOR SERVICES CURRENTLY PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SMITH HAS FRAMED HER OTHER NINE QUESTIONS ON IMMIGRATION AND REFORMS AS POLITICAL COMPROMISES AIMED AT ADDRESSING ALBERTA'S GRIEVANCES WITH OTTAWA WITHOUT DISMANTLING CANADA.

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-WIT H FILES FROM ’ Sean Previl 

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