Alberta’s Fight for Immigration Power
Premier blames federal policies for strained services, pushes Referendum for Alberta-first rules
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is stirring things up again, this time with a big push for a referendum on immigration and some hefty Constitution changes. Ever wonder why a province that’s long welcomed newcomers is suddenly talking tough on borders and federal powers? It all kicked off in her televised address on February 19, 2026, where she laid out plans for an October 19 vote with nine questions total. Five zero in on immigration, and four tackle constitutional tweaks to beef up Alberta’s clout inside Canada.
Smith blames federal policies for overwhelming the province. She said, “Throwing the doors 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.” Ouch, that’s direct. She argues rapid population growth from high immigration levels has strained services and contributed to fiscal pressures, especially with a big deficit looming. The goal? Get a clear mandate from Albertans to push for lower, more sustainable immigration focused on economic needs, prioritizing jobs for locals first.
Key immigration questions include limiting provincially funded health care, education, and social services mostly to citizens, permanent residents, and those with an “Alberta-approved” status (think Quebec-style control over economic migrants). Others ask about a 12-month residency wait for certain benefits, charging non-permanent residents fees for health and education access, and even requiring proof of citizenship to vote provincially. Smith defends this by saying temporary folks should be treated more like tourists, not full beneficiaries right away, and not every newcomer is a net contributor.
On the constitutional side, she wants input on bigger shifts: abolishing the Senate, letting provinces appoint superior court judges instead of Ottawa, allowing opt-outs from federal programs with compensation, and giving provincial laws priority over federal ones in shared or provincial areas. The aim is to strengthen Alberta’s sovereignty and fiscal position “within a united Canada,” as she puts it, while opening doors for negotiations with the feds.
But here’s the catch: current limitations are huge. Immigration is mostly federal turf under the Constitution, so Alberta can’t just unilaterally slash numbers or rewrite rules without Ottawa’s buy-in. Constitutional amendments need broad agreement across provinces and Parliament, often under tough formulas. Experts see this referendum as a negotiating tactic to pressure the federal government for more provincial say or extra funding, rather than guaranteed change. Critics call it divisive or a distraction from budget woes, and some worry it fuels separatist chatter (a separation question could sneak in if petitions succeed).
So, will this give Alberta more leverage, or just stir up more division? Albertans head to the polls in October to weigh in.
BACKGROUNDER
Quebec’s immigration model stands out in Canada because of its unique level of provincial control, especially over economic immigrants. This stems from the Canada-Québec Accord signed in 1991 (also called the McDougall-Gagnon-Tremblay Accord), which gives Quebec far more authority than other provinces.
Under this agreement, Quebec has exclusive responsibility for selecting economic immigrants destined for the province. That means Quebec sets its own criteria, runs its own selection programs, and issues a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) — a key document needed before applicants apply for permanent residence federally. The federal government handles final admission (including security, medical, and criminal checks) but can only override Quebec’s choices in rare cases like serious security risks.
Quebec aims to preserve its demographic weight, cultural identity (especially the French language), and integration capacity. The province sets its own annual targets, for example, planning to admit around 45,000 permanent immigrants in 2026, a drop from higher recent numbers, and focuses heavily on French proficiency. By 2029, the goal is for nearly 80% of newcomers to have at least intermediate French skills.
The main pathway now is the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ), which replaced older programs like the Regular Skilled Worker Program in late 2024. Applicants submit an expression of interest via the Arrima platform, get scored on factors like education, work experience, age, French (or sometimes English) levels, Quebec ties, and job alignment. Strong French boosts chances significantly, reflecting Quebec’s push to protect its linguistic heritage.
Quebec also controls aspects of temporary immigration (like setting targets for temporary foreign workers and international students starting in 2026) and runs settlement/integration services. It has ended programs like the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) and certain pilots to streamline and reduce inflows amid pressures on housing, services, and integration.
Other provinces use the federal Express Entry system or Provincial Nominee Programs with limited quotas and federal oversight, nothing matches Quebec’s broad selection power over economic classes. Family reunification and refugees remain mostly federal, though Quebec has input.
This model lets Quebec tailor immigration to its needs, prioritizing French speakers, regional balance, and economic fit, while keeping overall numbers controlled. It’s often cited as a benchmark (like in Alberta debates) for more provincial say, but replicating it nationwide would require major federal-provincial negotiations.
