It doesn’t take much to see how badly Premier Danielle Smith’s broadside against immigrants in Alberta could go. 

Smith, in case you hadn’t heard, is demonizing immigrants and temporary residents as a drain on the Alberta economy. In classic Smith fashion, she is blaming former prime minister Justin Trudeau for what she calls his “open borders” policy that is now straining Alberta’s health care and educational systems to the max. 

Smith hasn’t backed her claims with any studies or statistics. And as my colleague Max Fawcett points out, she has conveniently forgotten the fact that she herself asked Trudeau for more immigration in 2024.

Across Canada, there is a disheartening turn of public sentiment against immigrants, driven largely by the housing crisis and the unending economic turmoil caused by the US tariff war. Almost three quarters of Canadians now believe immigration should be reduced. 

When the economy is wobbly, food prices are soaring, and housing costs are still out of reach for so many, it might not take much for an even uglier turn. It already has in parts of Europe where waves of refugees have turned the public against migrants and fueled a resurgence of right-wing political parties. 

Closer to home in the US, we are watching a veritable crusade unfold against undocumented migrants, some of whom had been allowed to........

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