EDITORIAL: What Alberta really wants

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While 75% of Albertans chose to remain in Canada in Monday’s referendum — as opposed to starting the process to hold a binding referendum on separation — most also want a Canada different from the status quo.

That reality is found in their responses to the nine other questions on the ballot.

Prime Minister Mark Carney had urged Albertans to “vote no to the nine,” while Alberta Premier Danielle Smith had urged a “yes” vote on all of them, which had to do with immigration, provincial powers and constitutional reform.

In the end, a majority of Albertans voted “yes” on eight of the nine questions. That included a yes vote on all four questions linked to immigration reform.

Albertans want more control over immigration

A majority of Albertans voted that their province should accept fewer immigrants and assume greater control of who receives government benefits and when they receive them by margins ranging from 54% to 58%.

Sixty-four per cent supported Alberta introducing a law requiring Albertans to provide proof of citizenship when voting in provincial elections.

Fifty-two per cent want Alberta to work with other willing provinces to change the Constitution to have provincial governments, rather than the feds, appoint judges to superior and appeal courts.

Fifty-four per cent want Alberta to work with other willing provinces to change the Constitution to abolish the unelected federal Senate.

Fifty-one per cent want Alberta to work with other willing provinces to amend the Constitution to better protect provincial rights from federal interference.

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‘No’ to opting out of federal programs

Only on the question of whether Alberta should work with other willing provinces to amend the Constitution to allow provinces to opt out of federal funding programs, such as health care, without losing federal funds were a majority of voters opposed at 51%.

In response to the views of Albertans on immigration, Carney said he believes the federal government and the provinces can work together on achieving sustainable levels of immigration without a need for constitutional reform.

That said, Carney told the New York Times recently that Canada is going to begin a “controlled increase” in immigration after reducing its annual immigration targets because the previous Liberal government of Justin Trudeau let them get out of control.

By law, the Carney government has to publish its new immigration targets for 2027 to 2029 by Nov. 1.

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