Opinion: Don't blame new Albertans

On Oct. 19, Albertans will face important questions about our province's future: whether Alberta remains part of Canada and how we approach immigration.

We hope the answer to remaining in Canada will be an overwhelming yes.

Our experiences show that Alberta and Canada are stronger together. Alberta contributes energy, agriculture and innovation to the country. In return, we benefit from a larger economy, protection under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and opportunities from coast to coast to coast.

Those ties matter for a landlocked province. Pipelines, railways and ports beyond our borders connect Alberta's resources and businesses to markets across Canada and around the world. Separation would create uncertainty for the relationships that support jobs, investment and prosperity.

The immigration questions also speak to the kind of Alberta we want to build. Immigration is not new to Alberta. It is part of who we are.

Ukrainian settlers began arriving in the 1890s. South Asian workers were in the Crowsnest Pass by 1903. Lebanese families were building lives around Lac La Biche soon after. Black pioneers established farming communities, while Chinese immigrants helped build railways. Later, individuals and families from every corner of the globe came for work, opportunity or safety. They arrived at different times and for different reasons, but they all became Albertans.

Many of us signing this op-ed are part of that story. Some of us are first-generation immigrants. Others are the children of immigrants.

Like many immigrants, our families started with whatever work they could find, worked long hours and raised children while building new lives. Generations of immigrants became doctors, nurses and teachers. Others became public servants or business owners, or served in our military, helping defend the country they called home.

These are Alberta stories. Whether our families arrived five years ago or five generations ago, they came looking for a chance to build a better life. They put down roots and helped build this province. Their children and grandchildren are now our neighbours, co-workers and community leaders.

We agree that immigration must be managed responsibly. Housing, health care and infrastructure need to keep pace with population growth. We need immigration levels that our communities can support and governments that plan properly.

Alberta also needs people. Our population is aging, and employers need workers to sustain a strong economy. Newcomers help meet those needs by building homes, caring for patients and seniors, and teaching our children.

They also pay taxes and spend money in their communities. International students contribute through tuition and work, while temporary workers help employers fill genuine labour shortages.

Not every immigration program works perfectly. The temporary foreign worker and labour market impact assessment systems should meet real labour needs, not undercut Canadian workers or enable exploitation. Employers who abuse the system should face consequences.

Fixing those problems is different from treating people who legally live, work and study here as a problem.

The immigration questions go beyond asking how fast Alberta should grow. They ask whether some legal residents should have less access to public services, wait longer for support or pay more for health care and education. Important details remain unanswered, including what an additional premium would cost and how some restrictions would work.

The consequences extend beyond newcomers. They matter to an employer trying to recruit a nurse, a family deciding whether to build a future here and an investor considering whether to expand in Alberta.

For our part, we will vote to remain in Canada and vote no on the immigration-related questions. We believe in an Alberta that stays proudly Canadian, manages immigration responsibly and remains open to people willing to work hard and contribute.

That is an Alberta worth building together.

Amarjeet Sohi is a former Edmonton mayor, former federal cabinet minister and currently serves as a senior adviser at New West Public Affairs. Salem Alahmad is a former federal government ministerial staffer and former staffer for the office of the Mayor of Edmonton.

William Lau; Lucenia Ortiz; Omar Yaqub; Chander Sheikhar; Sunny Kakar; Rajiv Malhotra; Stephen Tsang; Baldev Grewal; Ida Lucila; G. Nabi Chaudhary; Wati Rahmat; Gursewak Mann; Sonny Gill; Zora Singh Grewal; Sital Nanuan; Kemoh Mansaray; Raj Pandher; Gurcharan Brar; Luwam Kiflemariam; Alphonse Ahola; Karen Sevcik; Lulu Bernal; Josephine Pallard; Satya Das; Jorge Plaza

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