Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she's seeking a mandate for her government's policy proposals in a referendum scheduled for Oct. 19.Todd Korol/The Canadian Press
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has launched her government’s campaign to persuade residents to vote in favour of constitutional changes and restrictions on public services for some immigrants in a referendum later this year.
But she was unclear on whether she would respect voters’ decision if they reject her policy proposals.
“We think we’ve done that initial culling of the questions to make sure that we found the ones that are likely to get majority support, but I’m asking them so that I can get a mandate,” Ms. Smith said at a news conference in Edmonton.
“And if I don’t get a mandate, then we’ll have to address what we do at that time.”
Ms. Smith, on Thursday, unveiled a new government-funded website that outlines the province’s position on the nine questions that will be on an Oct. 19 referendum ballot.
It includes lengthy videos explaining why the government believes Albertans should consider voting for issues including abolishing the federal senate, wresting control over judicial appointments and playing a greater role in immigration.
Whether Ms. Smith’s United Conservative Party government will respond to voters’ wishes was cast into doubt this week when she announced Alberta would be doing away with daylight-saving time. Alberta residents rejected the idea in a 2021 referendum.
On Thursday, Ms. Smith suggested voters were confused about what they were voting for because of how that question was phrased.
Her announcement offers new clarity to the government’s position on the nine referendum questions she announced in February that deal with immigration and constitutional issues, which were sparse on details when she first introduced them.
Five of the questions centre around Alberta taking more control of immigration, a job largely handled by Ottawa.
In her February address when she announced the referendum, she partly blamed the province’s expected $9.4-billion deficit on high immigration and the strain that’s put on publicly funded services. (About a week later, the U.S. launched its first attacks in Iran, leading to skyrocketing oil prices that could buoy Alberta’s budget to a surplus if they persist.)
When asked how much newcomers cost Alberta’s social programs, Ms. Smith said she didn’t know.
The new website estimates non-permanent residents cost the province about $1-billion every year. It does not explain in detail how it reached that figure.
One question introduces the concept of an “Alberta-approved immigration status” without defining it, while proposing that non-permanent residents must live in the province for a year before being eligible for social support programs.
It also proposes charging non-permanent residents “a reasonable fee” for health care and education.