Alberta Opposition urges an election instead of a fall referendum

The Alberta NDP says the government should call a general election rather than hold a fall referendum with at least nine questions; the party called the referendum a distraction ahead of a budget expected to show a large deficit.

Alberta's Opposition NDP is urging the provincial government to call a general election rather than hold a fall referendum that would include at least nine questions. The call followed a video address from Premier Danielle Smith saying she wants Albertans to vote on measures to limit immigration and to seek greater provincial powers under the Constitution. Smith linked the province's finances to low oil prices, federal immigration policies and equalization payments. The referendum was announced ahead of a budget expected to show a multibillion-dollar deficit and to be tabled next week. Key details: - NDP deputy leader Rakhi Pancholi said the nine-question referendum appears intended as a distraction from a forthcoming budget. - Premier Danielle Smith announced the referendum in a video and described questions on limiting immigration and expanding provincial constitutional authority. - Proposed referendum items include premiums and residency requirements for non-permanent residents' access to social supports, and measures to give the province greater control to prioritize economic migrants. - Smith said the province's financial situation is tied to low oil prices, federal immigration policies and equalization payments, and a multibillion-dollar deficit is expected. - Pancholi said Smith did not campaign on these ideas and listed matters she said lack a mandate, including separatism, withdrawing from the Canada Pension Plan, breaching the charter rights of thousands of Albertans, eastern slopes coal mining and two-tier health care; she also cited the UCP's "Alberta is Calling" campaign as a contrast on immigration. - Premier Smith scheduled a news conference for Friday at 11:30 a.m. MT to answer reporter questions. Summary: The Opposition frames the planned referendum as a diversion from fiscal issues, while the premier has presented it as a way to seek public input on immigration and provincial powers. The provincial budget is to be tabled next week and the premier is scheduled to brief reporters on the referendum and related matters at the announced news conference.