Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has announced plans for a province-wide referendum on Oct. 19, asking voters to weigh in on immigration controls and sweeping constitutional reforms.
In a televised address, Smith said Albertans will be asked to consider nine questions shaped by feedback gathered through the Alberta Next Panel, which held town halls and reviewed written submissions across the province last year.
Several proposed questions focus on increasing Alberta’s control over immigration. Voters will be asked whether the province should prioritize economic migrants, give residents first access to new job opportunities, and restrict provincially funded health, education and social programs to citizens, permanent residents and individuals with what Smith described as “Alberta-approved immigration status.”
Other proposals include introducing a one-year residency requirement before non-citizens or non-permanent residents qualify for provincial social supports, charging fees to temporary residents for access to health care and education, and requiring proof of citizenship before voting in provincial elections. Smith did not outline how an “Alberta-approved immigration status” would be defined.
During her address, Smith linked Alberta’s projected multibillion-dollar deficit to declining oil prices and what she called “out-of-control federal immigration policies.” The 2026 provincial budget is expected to be tabled next week by Finance Minister Nate Horner.
Smith said the government will avoid drastic cuts to core services, instead targeting bureaucracy, improving program efficiency and introducing additional income testing.
Beyond immigration, Smith wants Albertans to consider whether the province should work with other provinces to amend the Constitution. Proposed changes include allowing provinces to select superior court justices, abolishing the Senate, opting out of federal programs while retaining funding, and granting provincial laws priority over conflicting federal legislation in shared jurisdictions.
The announcement comes as a citizen-led effort seeks signatures for a separate referendum on Alberta independence.
Reaction from Immigration Sector
Jagpreet Bawa, a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant and founder of Canfed Immigration, said the proposal raises questions.
“I am confused by this policy direction,” Bawa said. “The province invested millions in the Alberta is Calling campaign to attract skilled workers and newcomers. Now the message appears to be shifting toward restriction.”
The Alberta is Calling campaign has promoted the province as a destination for interprovincial migrants and skilled newcomers, highlighting job opportunities and affordability.
With economic pressures mounting and federal-provincial tensions resurfacing, the October referendum is poised to become a defining political moment for Alberta in 2026.
