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Braid: Smith unveils government referendum in move to spike separatists

This is a clear attempt to win votes away from a separation referendum that could possibly be held the same day, if campaigners get enough signatures

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The separatists want a referendum? Premier Danielle Smith threw a monster back at them Thursday evening.

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Albertans will vote in a government-ordered referendum on Oct. 19 this year, she announced in a speech to the province, the most consequential from any premier in many years.

Albertans will be asked if they agree with eliminating many provincial benefits to immigrants.

Most dramatically, the province will vote on a host of measures to strengthen Alberta, and challenge Ottawa, within Confederation.

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This is a clear attempt to win votes away from a separation referendum that could possibly be held the same day, if campaigners get enough signatures.

The provincial government, unlike private citizens, can order referendums and set the questions.

Hard-line separatists won’t be convinced by any of this, but many “leaners” could be satisfied with Smith’s demands and the chance to vote on them.

That’s the UCP calculation after months of ambiguity on separatism and growing criticism across the country.

Smith presents a vision of a much stronger Alberta, enabled by constitutional change negotiated in concert with other “willing provinces.”

One question asks if Albertans want to abolish “the unelected Federal Senate.”

Another seeks approval to opt out of federal programs “intruding on provincial jurisdiction, such as health, education and social services.”

The question sees this happening “without losing any of the associated federal funding for use in their own provincial social programs.”

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Smith also asks for constitutional change that would give clear precedence to provincial laws over federal statutes when they’re in conflict.

Finally, the referendum will ask Albertans if provincial governments, not Ottawa, should select justices for provincial King’s Bench and Appeal courts.

All these reforms would need constitutional changes that have to be approved by seven provinces with 50 per cent of the population, as well as Parliament.

Separatists will howl that Ottawa is likely to ignore the results, as happened with former premier Jason Kenney’s 2021 referendum against equalization.

Smith concluded: “I look forward to the debate on these critically important ideas, and to receiving your decision on the questions outlined so our government can get to work on implementing an immigration policy that puts the needs of Albertans first, as well as constitutional reforms needed to make Alberta stronger and more sovereign within a united Canada.”

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The referendum questions on immigration are more specific and very tough.

She seeks approval to decrease immigration while “ensuring Albertans have first priority to new employment opportunities.”

Only Canadian citizens, permanent residents and people with Alberta-approved immigration status would be eligible for health care, education and other social services.

She proposes a law that requires immigrants with non-permanent legal status to live in Alberta for 12 months before receiving benefits.

She seeks approval to levy user fees for health and education on families with non-permanent immigration status.

Finally, the referendum will ask if individuals should show proof of Canadian citizenship to vote in a provincial election.

“Although sustainable immigration has always been an important part of our provincial growth model, throwing the doors wide open to anyone and everyone across the globe has flooded our classrooms, emergency rooms and social support systems with far too many people, far too quickly,” the premier said, laying the blame squarely on ex-prime minister Justin Trudeau.

“The changes we need to make to immigration are a significant departure from the status quo and, therefore, I am seeking a referendum mandate from Albertans to implement them.”

The immigration measures are not presented as constitutional, meaning the government could simply implement them after referendum approval.

The constitutional proposals will be much more difficult to achieve, but they will certainly draw attention from the separatist campaign.

That’s the whole point.

What happens if the measures pass and Ottawa simply shrugs, is a crisis ready-made for the 2027 election.

Don Braid’s column appears regularly in the Herald

X and Bluesky: @DonBraid

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