Alberta to Hold October Referendum on Immigration Policy and Senate Reform

Alberta residents will be asked to weigh in this October on two policy questions dealing with immigration and constitutional reform, the provincial government has announced.

One of the proposed referendum questions will ask voters whether non permanent residents should be required to pay to access Alberta’s publicly funded health care and education systems. The issue comes amid ongoing debate across Canada about how provinces manage service costs as population growth increases.

A second question will ask Albertans whether the province should advocate for abolishing the Senate as part of broader constitutional change. Senate reform has been a recurring topic in Alberta politics for decades, with successive governments calling for either an elected upper chamber or structural reform to address regional representation.

Premier Danielle Smith made the announcement during a televised address Thursday, saying she supports the use of direct democracy and believes Albertans should have a say on major policy directions. The referendum results would guide the province’s position in discussions with the federal government.

The vote is expected to draw national attention, particularly as immigration levels and constitutional reform remain active political debates across the country. In Alberta, where pressures on housing, health care and education systems have intensified in recent years, the outcome could influence future provincial policy discussions.