On Monday, October 19th, 2026 the people of Alberta are expected to vote on a referendum that has severe implications for the province as a whole. The people of Alberta will be asked 10 questions about three major topics: Immigration, Constitution, and Separation. The last topic being perhaps the most controversial and most discussed across the media. Around this time last year I wrote an article about the separatist movement of Alberta. This referendum has the potential effect of causing legal action to separate Alberta from Canada, but it could also reveal if the movement is declining.

 

Immigration Questions:

 

1. 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? 

 

This question is asking citizens of Alberta if they support the Government of Alberta to seek greater influence over immigration decisions that currently are majorly made by the Federal Government. The question states that this would be to reach sustainable immigration levels for Alberta’s economy. Furthermore, it would give Albertans first priority for employment opportunities. 

 

The Alberta government argues that rapid population growth has put pressure on public services and housing. On its referendum website, it says Alberta has grown by roughly 600,000 people in the past five years and claims federal immigration policies have strained health care, education, and social services. The government also states that services provided to temporary residents cost Alberta taxpayers more than $1 billion annually.

 

Researchers at the University of Calgary School of Public Policy note that Alberta's population growth reached 4.4% in 2023-24, bringing the province close to 5 million people, and that rapid growth created challenges, particularly around affordable housing and construction capacity.

 

Tombe, Trevor, and Mikhail Mitchenko. “Population Change and the Housing Market in Alberta.” School of Public Policy, University of Calgary, 2024, https://spp.ucalgary.ca/publications/population-change-and-the-housing-market-in-alberta.

 

2. 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?

 

Economically this question seems to indicate that temporary residents of Alberta are currently able to use government funded programs like health care, education, and social services. Sources below state that this indication is a reality. Referendum question two asks the people of Alberta if the government of Alberta should introduce a law that only allows permanent residents and individuals with an Alberta-approved immigration status to be eligible for these government funded programs. 

 

 "Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan." Alberta Health Services, Government of Alberta, https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/about/Page5767.aspx. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

 

"Temporary Foreign Worker Advisory Office [2023 to Current]." Open Government Alberta, Government of Alberta, 14 May 2026, https://open.alberta.ca/publications/temporary-foreign-worker-advisory-office. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

 

"Temporary Foreign Workers." Workers' Compensation Board - Alberta, Workers' Compensation Board Alberta, 1 Oct. 2018, https://www.wcb.ab.ca/assets/pdfs/workers/WFS_Temporary_foreign_workers.pdf. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

 

Access and Funding for International Students in Alberta: Frequently Asked Questions. Alberta Education, Government of Alberta, 2009, https://education.alberta.ca/media/1224561/faqs_english.pdf. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

 

French, Janet. "Hundreds of Undocumented Alberta Students at Risk of Losing Free Access to School." CBC News, 30 June 2026, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-students-immigration-rules-temporary-residence-education-act-policy-9.7253391. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

3. 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?

 

This question is asking if temporary residents should have to live in Alberta for at least 12 months before they receive provincially government funded social support benefits. This would affect people with non-permanent status and limit social programs that they are eligible for. Some temporary residents are currently eligible for certain provincially funded programs in Alberta, although eligibility varies by program. For example, eligible temporary residents can receive coverage under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) if they establish residency in Alberta, intend to live in the province for at least 12 consecutive months, and meet immigration-document requirements.

 

"Medical Insurance for New Arrivals: Is Health Insurance Available for Temporary Residents?" UAConnect Calgary, https://calgary.uaconnect.ca/en/faq/medicine/medical-insurance-for-new-arrivals/is-health-insurance-available-for-temporary-residents. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

 

4. 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?

 

Should temporary residents pay fees or premiums for provincially funded health care and education? Citizens and permanent residents would continue receiving services as they do now but certain temporary residents might pay additional costs to access public services. The exact fees would be determined later if the measure were implemented.

 

5. 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?

 

This question asks whether voters in Alberta provincial elections should be required to provide proof of Canadian citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate, or citizenship card, before being allowed to vote. This question is reminiscent of current debates going on in the United States of America. While this question does not provide detail of how enforcement will happen or if it will be somewhat similar to H.R. 7296, it is simply asking whether proof of citizenship should be necessary for voting in Alberta. 

 

Constitution Questions:

 

6. 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?

 

Currently judges are appointed by the federal government for provinces. However, this question is asking if constitutional changes should take place to have provinces select their judges. 

 

7. 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?

 

The Senate of Canada is an upper chamber of the federal government that consists of 105 members appointed by the Governor General. Question seven asks the citizens of Alberta if the Senate should be abolished which would remove that level of federal government review of legislation. This would require major constitutional amendments.

 

8. 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?

 

Should provinces be allowed to withdraw from federal programs in areas like health care or education while still receiving federal program rules? Alberta could run its own version of programs without following federal program rules. The provinces would still receive the federal funding associated with those programs. 

 

9. 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? 

 

Should provincial laws take precedence over federal laws in certain areas where both governments have jurisdiction? If provincial laws did take precedence over federal laws then the balance of power would shift more toward provinces. 

 

Separation Question:

 

10. 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?

 

Question 10 is the most controversial and most discussed question of the referendum and for good reason. This question has two options:

 

1. Alberta should remain a province in Canada.

 

No further action toward separation if this is chosen.

 

1. The Government of Alberta should commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada.

 

Alberta would begin the constitutional and legal steps needed to eventually hold a binding referendum on whether Alberta should leave Canada. This question does not itself separate Alberta from Canada it simply asks whether the province should start the process.