Preliminary results from Alberta’s recent referendum have raised concerns among migrant advocacy groups, as a majority of voters appear to support measures that would restrict access to public services for temporary residents. The referendum, held on Tuesday, included five questions, four of which focused on immigration control and access to provincially funded services such as health care and education for non-permanent residents and non-citizens.

While voters decisively rejected the province’s separation from Canada, they signaled approval for greater provincial authority over immigration, fees for temporary residents accessing health care and education, introduction of eligibility requirements tied to an undefined “approved immigration status,” and a 12-month residency mandate before temporary residents qualify for social programs. Official results remain pending, with Elections Alberta expected to release final counts by Wednesday evening.

Migrant rights groups expressed immediate alarm at the preliminary outcomes. Marco Luciano, executive director of Migrante Alberta, said that temporary foreign workers are concerned about potential new fees for health care services. “Even though Alberta voted to stay in Canada, for foreign workers, there’s nothing to celebrate today,” he remarked.

Legal advocates representing immigrant communities also described the referendum as exacerbating tensions. Avnish Nanda, founder of Our Alberta Advantage, said immigrants, including those long settled in the province, feel unfairly targeted amid political efforts perceived as catering to separatist elements. Nanda warned that implementing the referendum’s proposals could harm Alberta’s economy.

Statistics Canada data indicate there are approximately 260,000 temporary residents in Alberta, constituting roughly 5.8% of the province’s population as of late 2025. Business groups, including the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), have stressed the importance of immigration in addressing skilled labour shortages. A recent poll conducted by the Calgary Chamber in partnership with Abacus Data found that a slight majority of businesses oppose changes to existing immigration policies, citing concerns that proposed fees would be indirectly borne by employers seeking to retain immigrant workers.

Premier Danielle Smith has articulated the rationale behind the referendum questions, arguing that temporary residents receive public services worth significantly more than the taxes they contribute. She has proposed a $1,900 fee for access to health care for these residents and estimated that for every dollar paid in taxes by temporary foreign workers, taxpayers cover $10 in services.

Industry representatives cautioned about the potential impact of such measures on the labour market. Keyli Loeppky, CFIB’s senior director for Alberta and interprovincial affairs, stated that restrictive policies could worsen the province’s skilled labour shortage, emphasizing the need to balance public concerns with maintaining a reliable workforce.

Constitutionally, immigration remains under federal jurisdiction, with provinces having some ability to influence the number of temporary residents through provincial nominee programs but limited control over immigration policy more broadly. Calgary-based immigration lawyer Yameena Ansari noted that Alberta cannot unilaterally regulate immigration but could lawfully introduce legislation affecting access to provincial services for temporary residents.

Labour and policy experts criticized the referendum process and its framing. Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour, described the vote as a bad-faith political maneuver by Premier Smith designed to stoke xenophobia rather than a genuine democratic exercise. Similarly, Jim Stanford, a labour economist and head of the Centre for Future Work, characterized the immigration-related questions as biased and aimed at appealing to separatist-leaning voters, warning that the referendum sends negative signals about Alberta’s inclusivity on the national and international stage.