Alberta’s premier says a new government website will give voters information ahead of a provincewide referendum set for October, as the province seeks voter approval on immigration and constitutional issues.
On Thursday, April 23, Premier Danielle Smith said the site will outline nine referendum questions and provide plain-language explanations, background information and details on how the vote will be conducted by Elections Alberta.
“We recognize how consequential these questions are and we want to make sure that every elector in Alberta has the time needed to consider their vote and get the facts that they need to make an informed decision,” Smith said.
The referendum, first announced in February, will ask Albertans to weigh in on issues including supports for newcomers and working with other provinces to pursue constitutional amendments.
Smith said the government is seeking a clear mandate from voters, pointing to past referendums as a benchmark.
“We would like to have the majority of those who can vote to come out, and we’d like a majority mandate from that voter turnout.”
She said the vote is intended to inform government decisions in response to concerns about population growth, access to services and Alberta’s role within Confederation.
Smith pointed to rapid population growth as a key pressure, saying about 600,000 people have moved to Alberta since 2021, increasing demand on housing, health care, courts and education.
On immigration, Smith said the government is considering changes similar to Quebec’s model, which gives the province greater control over economic migration.
“That is the kind of model that we would be looking at if we get a mandate from the people,” Smith said.
The province is also examining the costs associated with temporary foreign workers, estimating they place more than $1 billion in annual pressure on services such as health care, education and social programs, compared with about $150 million in tax revenue.
“We’re actually supposed to generate more revenue than the cost associated with supporting those workers.”
She also cited a youth unemployment rate of 15.6 per cent in 2025, saying it reflects challenges for young people entering the workforce.
The premier said the government will not move ahead with major policy changes tied to the referendum questions until after the vote.
“I want to make sure that we’ve got a mandate from Albertans, because it is a departure from what we’ve done in the past.”
However, she said some measures — including enforcement provisions related to temporary foreign workers — are already being addressed through legislation such as Bill 26.
Justice Minister and Attorney General Mickey Amery said a recent Supreme Court of Canada decision involving Quebec will not affect Alberta’s timeline for reviewing electoral boundaries.
“The factual context of what we’re looking at when it comes to Quebec’s legislation and Alberta’s legislation is very different,” he said.
Amery said Alberta’s process requires legislative approval before changes take effect.
Smith said the government expects advocacy campaigns on both sides of the referendum questions and plans to promote participation through public outreach and advertising.
She said she expects strong support but acknowledged the government will have to respond if voters reject the proposals.
“If I don’t get a mandate, then we’ll have to address what we do at that time.”
The premier also said citizen-led questions could still be added to the ballot, depending on signature verification and pending court decisions.
