Share this Story : Edmonton Journal Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Lorne Gunter: Crafty move by Alberta premier on referendum questions

The brilliance of Smith’s move is that it pre-empts a separatism referendum by giving voters another option — giving the provinces greater control in a united Canada.

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

Wow, that was a welcome change of direction for federalism, which has for decades now been drifting towards a stronger central government and weaker provincial governments.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.

Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.

Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.

Support local journalism.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.

Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.

Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.

Support local journalism.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.

Enjoy additional articles per month.

Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments

Enjoy additional articles per month

Get email updates from your favourite authors

Sign In or Create an Account

The central theme of Premier Danielle Smith’s address to the province on Thursday evening was rebalancing Confederation, giving the provinces more control over matters that affect them most, such as health, education, immigration and judicial appointments.

But I’m almost positive the takeaway at most media outlets will be that Smith is pursuing a racist agenda.

Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.

There was an error, please provide a valid email address.

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Headline News will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again

Interested in more newsletters? Browse here.

She is doing no such thing.

In her speech to provincial residents, Smith promised a multi-part referendum in October this year. No, not on whether Alberta will separate but on what provincial powers Alberta should exercise and what should be the number and composition of immigration to Alberta. (This latter authority, over immigration, is similar to the power already granted to Quebec.)

As the province faces dual funding pressures in next week’s budget, with rising population and falling oil prices, Smith proposed “decreasing immigration to more sustainable levels, prioritizing economic migration and ensuring Albertans have first priority to new employment opportunities.”

This is essentially how the federal immigration program worked for more than 40 years from the early 1980s until Justin Trudeau’s doors-wide-open policy from 2022 onward.

Ottawa used to admit only that number of new Canadians each year that could be sustained by reasonable economic growth. Priority was given to immigrants who demonstrated skills not found in Canada or not found in sufficient numbers.

Lorne Gunter: Uncertainty rising with threat of referendum on Alberta separatism

'Stay united': Alberta shouldn't leave Canada, say Edmonton newcomers

Advertisement 1Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.document.addEventListener(`DOMContentLoaded`,function(){let template=document.getElementById(`oop-ad-template`);if(template&&!template.dataset.adInjected){let clone=template.content.cloneNode(!0);template.replaceWith(clone),template.parentElement&&(template.parentElement.dataset.adInjected=`true`)}});

For at least the last three years of its term, the Trudeau Liberals admitted anyone and everyone. The number of foreign workers, refugees, foreign students and citizen-track immigrants more than tripled.

From 2020 until 2025, Canada’s population grew by 34.6 per cent — nearly a full one-third. David Coletto of Abacus Data calculated that this rate of growth was more than double that of the next highest country, Austria, which grew by 14.5 per cent.

The average across 11 developed nations studied by Coletto was five per cent, meaning Canada’s population growth was seven times that of the multinational average.

Paying for the health, education and welfare of these millions and millions of new Canadians fell on provincial treasuries, putting strains on budgets, while driving up housing prices and overcrowding schools, hospitals and welfare offices.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith signals immigration shift ahead of provincial address Local News

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith signals immigration shift ahead of provincial address

Knoblauch won't survive Coffey's return, says NHL insider. Hmm Cult of Hockey

Knoblauch won't survive Coffey's return, says NHL insider. Hmm

Advertisement 2Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.document.addEventListener(`DOMContentLoaded`,function(){let template=document.getElementById(`oop-ad-template`);if(template&&!template.dataset.adInjected){let clone=template.content.cloneNode(!0);template.replaceWith(clone),template.parentElement&&(template.parentElement.dataset.adInjected=`true`)}});

Olympic break might have saved the Edmonton Oilers' season Sports

Olympic break might have saved the Edmonton Oilers' season

Opinion: Did Albertans actually vote for any of this? Columnists

Opinion: Did Albertans actually vote for any of this?

Wedgewood Heights affordable home plan goes ahead after heated debate Local News

Wedgewood Heights affordable home plan goes ahead after heated debate

Not only did Smith ask for more provincial control over immigration (like Quebec has already), she would like non-permanent immigrants to pay for social services until such time as they become permanent residents and start paying taxes towards the cost of their services.

That sounds perfectly seasonable, especially given that Alberta is the only province that continues to grow after new federal limitations.

The other criticism you can bet will be leveled against Smith’s immigration plan is that it smacks of Trump-ism. But she is not proposing ICE-style raids by federal agents wielding batons and guns. She is proposing rules-based changes.

Smith wants the provinces, not the federal government, to select the judges to federal, superior courts within their boundaries. And she says her referendum on Oct. 19 will ask Albertans whether they would like to see the abolition of the “unelected federal Senate.”

I admit the current Senate maintains the same regional biases as the House of Commons and there is no appetite for reform. But as an old Triple-E (equal, elected and effective) warrior from way back, I’m not sure how I feel about getting rid of the Senate entirely.

Smith wants provinces to be able to “opt out of federal programs intruding on provincial jurisdiction such as health, education, and social services, without losing any of the associated federal funding for use in their own provincial social programs.” That, again, is a power Quebec has had for more than 40 years.

The brilliance of Smith’s move is that it pre-empts a separatism referendum by giving voters another option — giving the provinces greater control in a united Canada.

That should satisfy most Albertans.

lgunter@postmedia.com

Share this Story : Edmonton Journal Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.

© Edmonton Journal