‘A clear crackdown on immigrants’: Critics push back on Smith’s provincewide address

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Premier Danielle Smith's address to Albertans

Smith’s announcement of immigration referendum ‘a distraction exercise’: analyst

Reaction to Premier Danielle Smith’s provincewide address was swift Thursday night, with critics challenging her government’s framing of immigration, economic pressures and Alberta’s finances.

In her televised remarks, Smith linked the province’s fiscal strain to lower oil prices, rapid population growth and federal immigration policy, while signalling referendum questions touching on provincial powers and migration.

Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt described the speech as unusually broad in scope.

“It was a fire hose of information. Like, this was about three different TV addresses that she could have done,” Bratt said.

“This was about the budget. This was about oil. This was about referendum questions. This was about immigration.”

Bratt said he believes the premier’s messaging was politically calculated.

“I believe I know why she did that, which is linking the budget issue to immigration and particularly to Justin Trudeau,” he said.

“She singled out Trudeau. He’s been gone for a year, but it doesn’t matter. He’s still the Boogeyman.”

Tax proposal for immigrants draws sharp criticism

Bratt was particularly critical of the provincial government referendum question into whether or not it should charge a fee or premium to immigrants with a non-permanent status living in Alberta for their and their family’s use of the health-care and education system.

Calling it a “head tax,” Bratt says it draws connotations to Canada’s discriminatory past and is something the federal government later apologized for and provided reparations for.

“She wants to introduce it in Alberta, and that is damning, absolutely damning,” he said.

Bratt also warned that the broader tone of the address risks fuelling division.

“She is linking the budget crisis to immigration—that is clear. And this is a crackdown on immigrants and, let’s be clear, a crackdown on non-white immigrants,” he said.

Clarifying his remarks, Bratt added that he’s referring to individuals targeted who are not of European descent.

“Where do you think the opposition to immigration is from? It’s not Ukrainians. It’s not British. You’re not talking about the Australians that work in Banff,” he said.

“It derives from some of the separatist language when they start talking about ‘Singh Hortons,’ for example.”

Bratt argued the political framing carries consequences.

“So, somebody has to be blamed, and it can’t be low oil prices, and it can’t be the provincial government,” he said.

“She’s creating a demonization, and that demonization is immigration.”

Advocacy group sees ‘passing the buck’ ahead of budget

Public Interest Alberta executive director Bradley Lafortune also criticized the address, arguing it signals how the government might frame next week’s budget.

“The first thing that comes to mind is that this is a budget that’s going to be all about passing the buck,” Lafortune said.

“We all know that we suffer from volatile resource revenue—that’s nothing new. But at the same time, there are responsible decisions that this government could be taking.”

Lafortune said he was also frustrated by suggestions that Alberta’s population surge was unexpected.

“We spent $10 million plus with an ‘Alberta is Calling’ strategy, and then people came, as requested by the Government of Alberta,” he said.

“Now we’re hearing, ‘This is a shock to the system we couldn’t have expected?’ It just doesn’t really pass the sniff test.”

Lafortune warned as well that rhetoric around newcomers risks deepening social tensions.

“Our message is that we need to unite as a province. We need to unite as a country,” he said.

“The reality is that newcomers, Albertans and Canadians are paying their fair share. That’s currently what’s happening, so I really hope that people will see through this exercise in deflection, in distraction and division.”

Referendum coming in October

The referendum ballot Smith announced would fall on Oct. 19, 2026, and ask Albertans five questions on immigration levels and immigrant status that are a “significant departure from the status quo,” she said.

Those questions include whether the provincial government should take more control over immigration levels and prioritize economic migration.

A second question asks if the Alberta government should introduce laws mandating that only Canadian citizens, permanent residents and those with Alberta-approved immigration statuses should be eligible for provincially funded health, education and other social services.

A third question asks whether there should be a law requiring those with non-permanent legal immigration status to be living in Alberta for at least 12 months before qualifying for provincial social support programs.

The fourth asks if the provincial government should charge a fee or premium to immigrants with a non-permanent status living in Alberta for their and their family’s use of the health-care and education system.

The final question asks if the government should introduce legislation requiring people to provide proof of citizenship—a passport, birth certificate or citizenship card—to be eligible to vote in a provincial election.

With files by Hannah Kavanagh