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TL;DR
Premier Danielle Smith claims that for every $1 temporary residents pay in taxes, they receive $10 worth of provincial services.
Alberta’s own numbers show a ratio closer to $6.67 in costs for every tax dollar, and the province has not explained how it calculated these figures.
Temporary workers and international students made up 1.27 percent of health costs, even though non-permanent residents were 5.5 percent of Alberta’s population.
On October 19, Albertans will vote on non-binding questions about temporary residents’ access to public services.
Premier Danielle Smith’s statement that temporary residents cost taxpayers $10 for every $1 they pay in taxes is not backed up by her office’s own data.
This calculation is important because the province is using it to support referendum questions about temporary residents’ access to health care, education, and social supports. The vote is set for October 19, 2026.
On August 31, Smith posted on social media: “For every $1 of taxes a guest worker generates, taxpayers are covering $10 in services.” Her office later told The Tyee that temporary residents cost Alberta over $1 billion each year.
Smith also said that temporary workers brought in $150 million in tax revenue in 2025. According to Calgary economist Ben Atkinson, dividing $1 billion by $150 million means costs are about $6.67 for every tax dollar.
The province has not shared details on how it calculated the $150 million figure. Alberta also does not release income tax data by immigration status, so it is not possible to independently verify this amount.
Health costs are lower than the population share
According to the premier’s office, temporary workers and international students made up 1.27% of Alberta’s health-care costs in 2024. This works out to just over $400 million, based on a $31.8-billion estimate from the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
Statistics Canada estimated that Alberta had 270,943 non-permanent residents in 2024, which is 5.5 percent of the population. While the categories are not exactly the same, this comparison does not show that non-permanent residents use more health care than others.
Atkinson told The Tyee that temporary residents “are using health care proportionally less than the rest of Albertans.”
The province also estimated that it costs about $600 million each year to educate temporary-resident students. This is based on an average cost of $12,000 for each of the 47,389 students listed under a temporary-resident education code in 2025.
Smith’s office also mentioned Alberta’s $8.6-billion plan to build or renovate over 100 schools as another cost. However, this amount covers projects across the province, and the government has not said how much of it is for temporary-resident students.
Alberta revenue sources go beyond personal income tax
Looking only at personal income tax ignores other sources of government revenue and economic contributions.
In 2024-25, Alberta collected about $16 billion in personal income tax, while health and education spending was over $35 billion. The province also pays for services with federal transfers, education property taxes, and resource royalties.
Temporary residents also pay consumption taxes and housing-related fees, and their numbers affect federal transfers to Alberta. According to The Tyee, a study for Global Affairs Canada found that international students contributed over $3 billion to Alberta’s economy in 2024. However, this figure measures overall economic activity, not just provincial tax revenue, so it cannot be directly compared to Smith’s ratio.
The number of non-permanent residents in Alberta has gone down. Statistics Canada says it dropped from 296,949 in January 2025 to 261,031 in April 2026.
Earlier, the province ran the Alberta is Calling campaign to attract workers. Employers have called temporary foreign workers a “lifeline” for small businesses,” especially in industries with labour shortages.
The referendum will not lead to immediate policy changes
Questions 2 to 4 ask voters whether to restrict eligibility, require a 12-month wait for social supports, and charge temporary residents fees for health care or education.
The term “Alberta approved immigration status” is used in the eligibility question, but it has not been clearly defined. The government says it will decide which work-permit holders and international students qualify after the vote.
Elections Alberta says the results are non-binding. Any changes, such as service restrictions, waiting periods, or new fees, would need new laws before they could take effect.
What this means for you
If you hold a temporary work or study permit in Alberta, the referendum itself does not cancel your current coverage or access to schools. Continue using existing provincial eligibility rules unless the government announces a formal change.
Before renewing your permit or changing employers, check your Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan status, as the length and type of permit can affect your coverage. Parents should confirm enrolment requirements with their school authority. If voters support the proposals, look for draft laws that will explain possible fees, exemptions, start dates, and what “Alberta approved immigration status” means.
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Dozie Anyaegbunam | Managing Editor