Temporary residents shouldn't receive full benefits, says Alberta premier
Posted on: Feb 20, 2026 15:52 IST | Posted by: Cbc
Alberta premiere Danielle ian smith on fri defended proposals to confine to authorities benefits to non-permanent residents in the province.
Smith wants to put immigration measures and constitutional questions to Albertans via a referendum that will be held on Oct. 19.
During a news conference Friday, one day after her video address to Albertans, she reiterated that the costs of benefits like health care, education and social services are a strain on government coffers.
"What we're talking about is making sure the services are prioritized to the people who have registered a permanent stake in our country and our province," Smith said in response to a reporter's question.
"That's Canadian ctizens and permanent residents. Temporary individuals should be treated as that."
Proposed referendum questions include asking Albertans about creating premiums and residency requirements for non-permanent residents to access social supports, and the province exerting greater control over immigration, prioritizing economic migrants.
Earlier Friday, the Alberta Opposition NDP said the provincial government should simply call a general election, rather than hold a fall referendum that will include at least nine questions to Albertans.
"The only thing that's clear is that those nine questions are intended to be a distraction from the premier about to table a very bad budget for Albertans," NDP deputy leader Rakhi Pancholi said.
In her video address, Smith foreshadows the 2026 provincial budget, which is to be tabled next week and is expected to have a multibillion-dollar deficit. Smith said the province's financial situation is due to low oil prices, federal immigration policies and equalization payments.
Pancholi said Friday that Smith did not campaign on these ideas.
"They don't have a mandate from Albertans for this. Not on separatism, not on pulling out of the CPP, not on breaching the charter rights of thousands of Albertans, not on coal mining in the eastern slopes, and not on two-tier health-care," Pancholi said.
Pancholi called the premier's comments on immigration hypocritical, citing UCP's "Alberta is Calling campaign," designed to attract skilled workers from other provinces.
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