Photo credit: Toronto Star
Premier Danielle Smith wants to hold a referendum in October on measures to limit immigration Alberta and changes she believes would give the province more rights under the constitution.
CBC News reports that Smith said she wants Alberta to vote on nine questions on Oct. 19. She said the subject of each question was based on what the Alberta Next Panel heard when consulting with Albertans during town halls and through written submissions last year.
Smith’s address comes one week before Finance Minister Nate Horner tables the 2026 provincial budget which is expected to have a multibillion dollar deficit.
She blamed the shortfall on low oil prices and “out-of-control federal immigration policies.
While Alberta will need to make cuts, Smith said there will be no “drastic” slashing of social services. She said the provincial government will bring in more income testing for applicants and limit spending.
She outlined a three-part strategy in her address to deal with these deficits. They include doubling oil and gas production by 2035, getting a new pipeline built to the West Coast to access Asian markets and clamping down on immigration.
