Alberta Referendum Ducks on Secession but Offers Much to Trump-Friendly Canadians

The question most wanted by Alberta separatists is not on the list, but there is much to like for Trump-friendly Canadians in a referendum announced this week in the western oil- and cattle-rich province sometimes described as the “Texas of Canada.”In a nine-question referendum to be voted on October 19, residents of Canada’s most conservative province will get to say whether they think the country is admitting too many immigrants, offering too many social benefits to new arrivals, and should require proof of citizenship before allowing people to vote.Other questions propose changes to the Canadian constitution, in place only since 1982, that would give the 10 provinces greater control over the courts, social programs and laws. One question proposes abolition of the Senate, an appointed upper chamber of Parliament modeled on the British House of Lords.While some of the proposals exceed the province’s authority, a positive vote would strengthen its hand in future negotiations with Ottawa.In a Thursday evening televised address to announce the referendum, Premier Danielle Smith charged that “disastrous open border immigration policies” under the former prime minister, Justin Trudeau, “have caused unprecedented strain on our health care, education and other social programs.”Noting that Alberta’s population of 5 million grew by almost 600,000 in the last five years of Mr. Trudeau’s administration, she said that “throwing the doors wide open to anyone and everyone across the globe has flooded our classrooms, emergency rooms and social support systems with far too many people, far too quickly.”Ms. Smith’s omission of a question on secession is not stopping an independent effort to force a referendum on that issue, led by a group called “Stay Free Alberta” which has until May 2 to collect more than 177,000 signatures on a petition.Organizers of the campaign say they have met with Trump administration officials in Washington three times and are asking the United States Treasury for a $500 billion line of credit to bankroll a new country if they are successful.The group said in January it had scheduled another meeting with American officials this month, but after Prime Minister Mark Carney urged the Trump administration to “respect Canadian sovereignty,” the State Department told Reuters there would be no future meetings.The group has not yet commented on Ms. Smith’s referendum, but a spokesman, Jeff Rath, criticized the premier in late January for refusing to allow a debate on independence in the provincial legislature.“She also made it clear that she would not allow any resolutions on the floor with regard to Alberta independence. So I think what she’s saying is that she’s the boss of us and she wants Albertans to remain oppressed by Canada,” Mr. Rath said.The appeal of an independent Alberta for American conservatives goes beyond a cultural affinity with a province where Stetson hats are ubiquitous and tens of thousands of Americans are among the almost 1.5 million who attend the annual Calgary Stampede, the world’s biggest rodeo.Chuck wagon racing is a popular feature of the annual Calgary Stampede at Calgary, Alberta. Mike Powell/Allsport via GettyOil is also a factor. Most of the roughly 5 million barrels per day extracted in Alberta now goes to refineries in Texas, Louisiana, and the American Midwest, but Mr. Carney has been working to shift more of that production to China and other Asian countries in response to American tariffs. A Washington-aligned independent Alberta would be more likely to send all the oil south.Ms. Smith’s government is on board with the oil sales to China, or anywhere else, but aligns well with Trump administration priorities in its questions for the October referendum.“Do you support the Government of Alberta taking increased control over immigration for the purposes of decreasing immigration to more sustainable levels,” asked the first question on the list.The second asks whether voters would favor a law restricting access to provincial programs “such as health care, education and other social services” to citizens, permanent residents and those with an “Alberta-approved” immigration status.Voters will also be asked whether they support the province charging “a reasonable fee or premium” for access to the province’s health care and education systems by non-permanent immigrants such as foreign students and temporary workers.Yet another question that aligns with Trump administration priorities asks whether voters would like to see a law requiring proof of citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate, or citizenship card, before anyone is allowed to vote in an Alberta provincial election.

Alberta Referendum Ducks on Secession but Offers Much to Trump-Friendly Canadians

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