Ten questions. Ten ballots.
All intended to divide and distract.
On October 19, Albertans will vote on ten separate referendum questions:
You will receive 10 separate ballots.
There is one ballot that asks whether Alberta should remain in Canada or begin the process toward a future separation referendum.
There are five ballots aimed at delaying or restricting immigrants from accessing provincial programs and services like healthcare, education, and the Alberta Child and Family benefit.
And four additional ballots are meant to give Danielle Smith and the UCP government more power, free from federal oversight. This would allow her to appoint socially conservative judges, and opt out of important federal programs that Albertans rely on like the Child Care Subsidy, the National School Food Program and others.
These questions were not created by citizen petitions. They do not reflect Albertans’ priorities.
Public healthcare and public education need attention now. This referendum won’t hire another nurse, reduce a surgery wait or put another teacher in a classroom.
To Move Forward Vote to Remain in Canada & Vote NO on the other nine questions.
Pledge your vote. Volunteer. Donate. Get involved here:
albertareferendum2026.org
Why Vote NO?
This referendum isn’t about solving Alberta’s biggest challenges. It’s about creating months of political debate while the issues that matter most to Albertans continue to grow.
Healthcare. Education. Affordability. Jobs. The economy.
These are the priorities Albertans want governments focused on.
Instead, we’re being asked to vote on ten referendum questions that won’t make life more affordable, improve public services or strengthen our economy.
Here’s why we’re encouraging Albertans to Vote Remain and Vote NO on the other nine questions:
On Immigration
Much of the debate around immigration has been driven by misinformation and political rhetoric rather than facts.
Newcomers are our neighbours, coworkers and friends. They work in our businesses, pay taxes and help keep Alberta’s economy moving. Immigration is not the reason healthcare and education are under pressure. Those challenges come from policy choices and government priorities.
Albertans deserve an honest conversation based on facts, not scapegoating.
Immigration FAQs:
❌ MISINFORMATION: Immigration is to blame for Alberta’s challenges.
✅ FACT: Newcomers are our coworkers, neighbours, friends and net contributors to our communities and economy. And immigration helps to fill vacancies and keep our economy going.
Canada is already reducing immigration, which will lower nominal GDP in Canada by $37 billion and result in 1.3 billion fewer hours worked.
The government is using immigration as a scapegoat for their failings to fund and properly manage our public services.
❌ MISINFORMATION: Taxpayers are providing free education and healthcare for non permanent residents.
✅ FACT: Some government sources say that non permanent residents only pay $150 million per year in taxes when in fact they likely paid approximately $800 million in combined 2025 federal and provincial taxes. This does not include GST or CPP/EI Premiums.
This means that newcomers to Alberta are already paying for their healthcare, education and social services. And some temporary residents who don’t yet qualify for these services are already paying for them out-of-pocket.
Many temporary residents work here, pay taxes and contribute to our economy and communities. They are already funding public services and deserve access.
❌ MISINFORMATION: There is too much immigration happening in Alberta.
✅ FACT: We know there are roughly 271,000 NPRs in Alberta as of January 2026 and the majority of those people are here working. A smaller number are here to study. A small fraction of these folks are here as refugees, coming to Canada to seek refuge and safety.
Also, recent changes to immigration policies in Canada and Alberta have drastically reduced incoming international immigration.
This referendum’s focus on international immigration is about distraction and division, and not about the reality of immigration in Alberta.
❌ MISINFORMATION: Immigrants are the cause of stress in the healthcare and education systems in Alberta.
✅ FACT: Non permanent residents use the healthcare system at much lower rates, even though most pay taxes that help fund to the system. Based on the government’s own numbers we see that the average non permanent residents costs the system about $1500 a year whereas the average citizen costs the system about $9500 per year.
Our problems in healthcare and education are due to lack of provincial government funding and mismanagement of the systems by the government, not newcomers to Alberta.
On Alberta in Canada
Alberta is strongest when we’re creating jobs, attracting investment and building confidence in our future.
The uncertainty created by repeated constitutional fights and separation debates puts all of that at risk. Businesses delay investment. Employers delay hiring. Families wonder what comes next.
We can stand up for Alberta while remaining part of Canada. We don’t need more uncertainty to build a stronger province.
Alberta in Canada FAQs:
❌ MISINFORMATION: We can vote for separation just to send Ottawa a message.
✅ FACT: The biggest cost may not be the referendum itself. It’s the uncertainty it creates.
Businesses will delay investment. Employers will delay hiring. Families will be left wondering what comes next. That’s bad for jobs, wages and Alberta’s economy.
63% of businesses in Calgary have said that separation talk is already negatively impacting their business.
48% of those same businesses say they will relocate their businesses outside Alberta if separation moves forward.
And a whopping 80% also say this debate is having a negative impact on Alberta’s economy.
Alberta businesses are warning that separation uncertainty could drive down investment, hiring and long-term planning.
We can stand up for Alberta without putting our jobs at risk.
And don’t forget, this vote will cost us more than $130 million!
❌ MISINFORMATION: These votes will solve Alberta’s problems.
✅ FACT: They won’t shorten a surgery wait, lower a grocery bill or put another teacher in a classroom. We need to vote remain and vote NO on the other nine questions to move forward and to start dealing with real problems facing Albertans.
In 2025 we ranked 10th of 13 for healthcare spending. When considering Nova Scotia, the province that invests the most in healthcare, we spend over $2K less per citizen.
Of all provinces, Alberta spends the least on education across Canada. Quebec, who leads the country in per student investment, spends almost $6K more per student than Alberta does.
On Constitutional Questions:
Albertans aren’t asking for years of constitutional negotiations.
They’re asking for shorter healthcare wait times, better schools, affordable housing, good jobs and practical solutions.
These referendum questions won’t solve those problems. They risk distracting governments from the work Albertans actually elected them to do.
It’s time to move past political fights and get back to governing.
Constitutional Questions FAQs:
❌ MISINFORMATION: Alberta should be able to opt out of federal programs and keep the money it received for them.
✅ FACT: The federal government provides funding for many programs important to Albertans. Billions for the Child Care Subsidy. Nearly $43 million for The National School Food Program. $1.3 billion for mental health services. If the province opts out, will these programs actually continue? And will the federal government hand over those funds to Alberta with no strings attached?
❌ MISINFORMATION: Alberta’s biggest problem is the Constitution or how we relate to Ottawa.
✅ FACT: Alberta’s biggest challenges are healthcare, education, affordability and growing the economy. Constitutional debates won’t solve any of these concerns..
We’re 10th of 13 on healthcare spending among the provinces and territories. Dead last on education spending. Let’s put a priority on these issues instead of more divisive votes that won’t fix these problems.
Let’s Get Back to What Matters
Albertans want practical solutions, not more political division.
We need better healthcare. Stronger public education. Good jobs. A growing economy. More affordable communities. Those are the challenges that deserve our time, energy and tax dollars.
Economic Risk
This referendum creates uncertainty at exactly the wrong time. When businesses delay investment, employers delay hiring and skilled workers look elsewhere, Alberta’s economy suffers. We can stand up for Alberta without putting our jobs, investment and economic future at risk.
A $130 Million Distraction
This referendum is expected to cost at least $130 million. That’s $130 million that could be helping reduce surgery wait times, support classrooms, improve public services or make life more affordable. Albertans deserve better value for their tax dollars.
A decisive Remain vote and NO vote on the other nine questions lets Alberta move forward. It tells our government to stop spending time and money on political fights and start focusing on the priorities that affect people’s daily lives.
NO means enough.
NO means it’s time to move on.
Join thousands of Albertans who are choosing a more hopeful future.
✓ Donate
✓ Apply for your Vote by Mail (Special Ballot) HERE so you can vote from home and avoid the expected long lines on voting day.