Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced that on October 19, 2026, the province will hold a referendum with nine questions: five will concern immigration and access to provincial programs, and four on constitutional and fiscal changes that, according to the government, are intended to “strengthen Alberta's position in a united Canada.”
According to Smith, the government is seeking a “mandate” from voters for measures to reduce immigration to “more sustainable levels” and give “priority” to Albertans in the labor market.
What issues are being put to a vote
In the section on immigration in the ballot, voters are asked whether they support:
- Alberta's increased control over immigration to reduce it and focus on economic migration;
- restricting access to provincially funded programs (including health care and education) to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and individuals with “Alberta approved immigration status”;
- requiring individuals with non-permanent status to live in Alberta for 12 months before accessing social programs;
- the possibility of introducing a “smart fee/premium” for the use of health care and education systems for people with non-permanent status;
- a requirement to prove citizenship (passport/birth certificate/citizenship card) in order to vote in provincial elections.
Separately, in terms of constitutional changes, the government wants to find out whether voters support working with other provinces on amendments that provide, in particular, for the election of provincial court judges by the provinces themselves, the abolition of the federal Senate, the right to “opt out” of federal programs without losing funding, and the priority of provincial laws in certain areas in the event of a conflict with federal laws.
Source: https://www.alberta.ca/article-premiers-address-to-the-province