On October 19, 2026, a referendum was held in Alberta that could influence the province’s future immigration and social policies. Residents rejected the idea of a move toward independence by an overwhelming majority, while supporting a series of proposals to tighten immigration controls and restrict temporary residents’ access to public services.
For Ukrainians living in Calgary, Edmonton, and other cities in Alberta on temporary work or study permits, the results of the vote deserve special attention. After all, some of the proposed changes directly affect healthcare, education, social assistance, and employment.
However, it is important to note that these are, for now, merely the results of a vote—not new laws.
Alberta Remains Part of Canada
The issue that attracted the most attention was the possible secession of Alberta from Canada.
Voters were asked to choose between keeping the province as part of the country and initiating a legal process that could lead to a separate, mandatory referendum on independence.
According to preliminary results, approximately three-quarters of voters supported keeping Alberta part of Canada. About a quarter voted in favor of initiating a process that could pave the way for a future vote on secession.
Thus, the majority of the province’s residents did not even support the first legal step toward a possible withdrawal from the country.
However, the results of the other nine questions painted a much more complex picture.
Albertans Want More Control Over Immigration
One of the key questions concerned the province’s right to determine its immigration policy more independently.
Voters were asked to support expanding the Alberta government’s authority to reduce immigration to a level the province deems sustainable, give preference to economic immigrants, and ensure that Albertans are prioritized in the job market.
A majority of voters supported this proposal.
This does not mean that employers are now required to give preference to local candidates or that the rules for obtaining work permits have changed.
However, the result demonstrates public demand for a more selective immigration policy that is more closely aligned with the needs of the local labor market.
For foreign workers—particularly Ukrainians with open work permits—future government decisions could have practical implications.
Access to Healthcare, Education, and Social Programs May Be Reviewed
Another issue concerned who should be eligible for programs funded by the Alberta budget.
The proposed model stipulates that Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and individuals with immigration status approved by the province will be eligible for such programs.
Services potentially affected by the changes include health care, education, and social support.
A majority of voters also supported this proposal.
At the same time, the phrase “immigration status approved by Alberta” requires a separate legislative definition. It is not yet possible to say exactly which categories of temporary residents might gain or lose eligibility for specific programs.
This issue is particularly important for families living in the province on the basis of temporary immigration documents.
Social Assistance Only After 12 Months of Residence?
One of the most debated proposals calls for introducing a minimum period of residence in Alberta for people with non-permanent immigration status.
This involves a requirement to live in the province for at least 12 months before becoming eligible for provincially funded social programs.
According to preliminary results, a majority of voters supported this idea.
At the same time, the question itself specifically noted that the rights of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to social assistance should remain unchanged.
If these rules are eventually adopted, they could have the greatest impact on newly arrived temporary residents.
However, the specific list of programs, possible exceptions, and the procedure for applying this requirement have not yet been defined.
Will temporary residents have to pay extra for healthcare and education?
This is perhaps one of the most sensitive issues in the referendum for Ukrainian families.
Voters were asked whether they support the possibility of introducing additional fees or insurance premiums for people with temporary immigration status for using the health care and education systems—both for themselves and for their family members.
The majority of voters responded in the affirmative.
For many temporary residents, this prospect may be cause for concern. After all, people who work in Alberta, pay taxes, rent or buy homes, and raise children are already contributing to the funding of public services.
At the same time, supporters of the additional fees view them as a way to spread the cost of public services amid a growing population.
So far, no new rates, contribution amounts, or implementation dates have been set based on the referendum results.
It is also important to distinguish between public school education, post-secondary education, and various types of health care services: the rules for funding them differ, and the referendum did not specify a particular mechanism for change.
Other Issues: Citizenship, Judges, and Provincial Powers
In addition to immigration, Albertans voted on proposals related to electoral legislation and the Canadian Constitution.
These included:
- A requirement to confirm Canadian citizenship in order to vote in provincial elections.
- Granting provinces greater influence over the appointment of judges.
- Abolishing the federal Senate.
- Allowing provinces to opt out of certain federal programs without losing the corresponding funding.
- Strengthening the primacy of provincial legislation in specific areas of jurisdiction.
The results of the vote on constitutional issues turned out to be significantly less clear-cut than the votes on secession or immigration. Some proposals received only a narrow majority, and one of them, according to preliminary data, did not secure a majority.
Furthermore, amending the Canadian Constitution cannot occur solely based on the decision of voters in a single province. This requires the procedures outlined in the Constitution and the involvement of other government bodies.
What Do the Referendum Results Mean for Ukrainians in Alberta?
First and foremost, it is important to understand the difference between immigration statuses.
Ukrainians who have already obtained Permanent Residence (PR) are in a different legal position than those living in Canada on temporary permits.
Several referendum questions explicitly provide for maintaining current access to relevant programs for Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
However, potential changes may affect people who hold:
- Temporary work permits (Work Permit).
- Study permits (Study Permit).
- Other forms of legal temporary immigration status.
This category also includes some Ukrainians who arrived in Canada under the CUAET program and are still in the country on a temporary basis.
Families with children, newly arrived workers, and people who rely on provincial social programs will require special attention.
However, it is too early to draw conclusions about the loss of specific benefits or the right to health care at this time.
Even if the Alberta government decides to implement the proposals supported by voters, it will first be necessary to draft the relevant bills, define categories of residents, establish exceptions, and determine the procedures for applying the new rules.
Certain decisions may also require alignment with federal legislation and existing legal protections.
Is there anything you need to do right now?
As of October 22, 2026, the referendum results do not, in and of themselves, change the conditions of Ukrainians’ stay in Canada.
Temporary residents do not automatically lose health insurance, access to education, or social support simply because a majority of voters supported the relevant proposals.
Similarly, the referendum results do not affect the validity periods of work permits, study permits, or other immigration documents.
Therefore, there is no reason to urgently renew documents solely because of the referendum.
Instead, it is advisable to monitor official announcements from the Alberta government, potential legislative initiatives, and changes to the rules of specific provincial programs.
What’s Next?
The official announcement of the referendum results is scheduled for October 29, 2026.
After that, the Alberta government will be able to determine which of the proposals supported by voters it plans to implement and in what form.
In the near future, attention will focus primarily on immigration issues, as they directly affect people who already live and work in the province.
The referendum revealed two important trends: the majority of Albertans want to remain part of Canada, but at the same time, a significant portion of voters supports a stricter approach to immigration and the use of provincial budget funds.
For the Ukrainian community, this is a signal to closely monitor future decisions, but not a reason to assume that new restrictions are already in effect.
Key takeaway: Alberta voted for potential policy changes, not for the immediate revocation of temporary residents’ rights.