Please send this to ONE Canadian immigrant today and ask them to subscribe here.

TL;DR

With Alberta’s referendum approaching on October 19, Premier Danielle Smith said the cabinet has not decided yet if some proposed immigration changes will affect current residents, according to The Canadian Press.

Smith said she wants to see if voters give the government a mandate before the cabinet makes any decisions. Elections Alberta have five immigration questions among ten on the ballot. The results are non-binding, so a yes vote by itself will not change eligibility or add any fees.

“We have to talk about that as a cabinet. I want to see if we even have a mandate to do it,” Smith said when asked if some changes would apply to people already living in Alberta.

The first question asks if Alberta should have more control over immigration, reduce arrivals to sustainable levels, and focus on economic migration. It also suggests giving Albertans first priority for new jobs.

Question 2 suggests limiting access to provincially funded programs, such as health care and education, to citizens, permanent residents, and people with Alberta-approved immigration status.

Question 3 proposes that people with non-permanent immigration status must live in Alberta for at least 12 months before they can receive provincially funded social supports, like childcare subsidies and income supports. This waiting period does not apply to regular health care or education.

Question 4 asks if people with non-permanent immigration status and their families should pay a “reasonable fee or premium” to use health care and education. Schow said the government will wait for a mandate before deciding on the fee amount.

The fifth question would require proof of citizenship to vote in provincial elections. Provincial guidance says Questions 2 through 4 would not affect permanent residents. Voters can answer those questions separately.

Provincial guidance links the proposed status to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). AAIP nominates applicants seeking permanent residence, while Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) decides on their applications. The specific rules for which temporary permit holders would qualify for Alberta-approved status are still unsettled.

As of June, about 260,000 non-permanent residents were estimated to be living in Alberta, most with work or study permits. This is just a population estimate, not the number of people who would be affected by any proposal. Currently, temporary residents are eligible for public health care, schooling from kindergarten to Grade 12, the Alberta Child and Family Benefit, and the Alberta Child Care Subsidy.

Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi of the New Democratic Party said, “The government doesn’t know what these questions mean.” Schow called the discrimination argument “a very narrow-minded view of what we’re trying to do as a province.”

The government launched its referendum campaign website in April and said it would campaign for yes votes.

If you have a study or work permit in Alberta, check the rules for each service your household uses before making any plans based on the ballot questions. The proposed social-support wait applies to different programs than the proposed health-care and education fee.

Keep records of your immigration status and how long you have lived in Alberta, since these details are part of the proposals. If voters support a question, wait for a provincial decision and updated program rules before assuming your eligibility or costs have changed.