Alberta Fact Check: Alberta’s referenda questions on immigration aren’t racist

Immigration lawyer and defund-the-police advocate Avnish Nanda told Global News that the questions being presented to Albertans in this fall’s referenda on immigration are unnecessary and racist.

Albertans will be asked whether the province should seek greater control over immigration levels to make them more sustainable, prioritize economic migrants, and give Albertans first priority for new jobs. Also, they can consider whether only Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and those with Alberta-approved immigration status should access provincially funded programs such as health care, education, and social services. 

Also proposed is whether non-permanent residents should face a 12-month residency requirement before accessing social supports and if they should pay a reasonable fee or premium for health care and education. Finally, it is asked if proof of citizenship should be required to vote in provincial elections.

Nowhere does race appear in any way within the questions overtly or implicitly. That’s because race has nothing to do with them. None of the questions reference national origin or cultural background either.

The questions turn on legal immigration status, which is a distinction every sovereign jurisdiction draws. The focus is on temporary or non-permanent status holders who come in every race imaginable.

As far as the questions being necessary, m*** immigration has been a top issue for citizens for years, and they should have the right to vote on how to manage the consequences of it. In 2023, the province saw a net increase of roughly 202,000 people, with international migration the dominant driver and non-permanent residents accounting for a large share. Healthcare, educational spaces and housing became scarce and overloaded due to the influx.

Provincial estimates put the cost of insured health services for non-permanent residents at about $100 million annually (excluding hospital care, the costliest component) and education spending for children of temporary residents in the range of $500–600 million. It’s a serious issue, and even if Albertans reject the referenda proposals, it is important to bring them to the public sphere of debate.

Quebec has long exercised substantial control over the selection of economic immigrants under the Canada-Quebec Accord. Other provinces and municipalities routinely apply residency requirements or differential rules for certain benefits. It’s not racism. It’s common sense.

A sub-industry of agencies and lawyers specializing in working within the revolving door system of temporary immigrants has developed, and it’s very lucrative. It’s understandable why those within it defend the status quo. The cost to Albertans, however, has become far too high, and the referendum questions put the decisions into the hands of citizens where it belongs.

It would be racist to ***ume all temporary immigrants are non-white.