Parkland Institute report calls immigration referendum questions a political scapegoating tactic

A Parkland Institute report released this week argues that five immigration questions on Alberta's October 19 referendum are designed as a political tactic to blame minority communities for strain on public services and affordability—despite lacking evidence to support the connection.

Bronwyn Bragg, an assistant professor at the University of Lethbridge who authored the report, presented findings Wednesday at a webinar. She pointed out that Albertans are indeed experiencing real challenges: family doctor shortages, long wait times for services, and overcrowded classrooms. But the provincial government, she argued, is shifting responsibility onto a small minority rather than addressing root causes.

"While the premier sought to grow Alberta's population, the provincial government has done little to grow service capacity at the same time," Bragg said. "The province is seeking to shift the blame for overcrowded schools and healthcare crisis onto a tiny minority."

The five questions appeal to what Bragg called "common-sense" logic about the province taking control over immigration and costs associated with temporary residents. The first asks whether voters support the government taking "increased control over immigration for the purposes of decreasing immigration to more sustainable levels, prioritizing economic migration and giving Albertans first priority on new employment opportunities." Bragg said there is no evidence backing these premises.

"The government is seeking some kind of public support mandate for what I believe to be a xenophobic agenda," Bragg stated.

The report notes that 2026 marked the first year Canada's population did not grow, a result of substantially scaling back immigration. Currently, 271,000 non-permanent residents live in Alberta, representing 5.4 per cent of the province's population. Of those, 75 per cent hold work permits and pay taxes.

Bragg points out that high immigration levels were not imposed on Alberta by the federal government but actively pursued by the provincial government under the UCP. The government launched the "Alberta is Calling" recruitment campaign in August 2022, spending $2.6 million on ads in high-traffic areas of Toronto and Vancouver to recruit workers.

Bragg believes voters will likely support the immigration questions despite their complexity, driven by population frustration about affordability and public service access. She argues the blame-shifting tactic mirrors rhetoric used by separatist movements and represents a long-standing political strategy with damaging effects across the province.