Opinion: Immigration proposals would leave Albertans worse off

At first glance, Alberta's upcoming immigration referendum questions can sound like common sense. They ask whether Alberta should take more control over immigration and whether some temporary residents should face new limits or costs for health care, education, and other public services.

At a time when a lot of people are feeling squeezed, it is easy to see why those ideas might appeal. Housing costs more, services are stretched, and workers are worried about making ends meet, let alone getting ahead. The real question is whether these proposals would help, or leave Albertans worse off.

We did not get here because of one thing. COVID turned life upside down, the cost of living shot up, and Alberta grew faster than our housing and services could keep up with. Federal immigration policy also added to the pressure and hurt public confidence.

I am the child of immigrants who came to Canada in the 1980s. My father spent more than 30 years working in Alberta's oilsands. He worked hard, paid taxes, and built a life for his family. They made Canada home, and their children built lives here.

That is the Alberta dream. Work hard, contribute, and build a better life. Immigration has helped build this province. Alberta's economy, from the oilsands to agriculture and health care, has long relied on people coming here from across Canada and around the world.

That does not mean our immigration system has worked well. Population growth outpaced housing and public services. Diploma mills recruited international students with little regard for their education or job prospects. Parts of the temporary foreign worker program were abused in ways that risked depressing wages while exploiting workers.

The federal government has started correcting some of those problems by lowering targets, tightening international student rules, and restricting parts of the temporary foreign worker program. Those changes need time to work. One knee-jerk response should not be met with another.

Alberta already has programs that help the province attract workers and respond to labour shortages. Adding more layers, as the referendum questions propose, could slow hiring, raise costs, and make it harder for Alberta businesses to grow.

The economic stakes go beyond filling jobs. Alberta competes with other provinces and countries for skilled workers, investment, and talent. People can spend years living and working here before gaining permanent residency. If a doctor, engineer, or tradesperson is told their family will face barriers to health care or education, they may simply choose somewhere else. That can make Alberta a harder sell for businesses trying to recruit and keep skilled workers.

The questions dealing with health care, education, and social supports concern me most. Albertans are being asked whether many lawful non-permanent residents should wait 12 months for provincially funded supports, pay extra for health care and education, or lose access to some services altogether.

Most temporary residents work legally in Alberta. They have valid permits, pay taxes, and raise families here. If someone is contributing to Alberta, why make it harder for their family to see a doctor or send their children to school?

Keeping children out of school can have consequences far beyond the classroom. It can leave young people isolated and more vulnerable to exploitation or underground activity. Over time, pushing families away from schools and public institutions can deepen segregation and contribute to concentrated poverty and ghettoization.

Albertans should ask whether these proposals will improve wages, strengthen public services, and make Alberta more competitive. Could they instead raise costs, discourage investment, and make it harder for employers to find the people they need?

Our response to mistakes made in recent years should be rational and practical. Provincial policy should make life better for Albertans and strengthen our economy, not leave us with another set of problems to solve.

That is why I will be voting No on the immigration referendum questions.

Salem Alahmad is a former federal government ministerial staffer and former staffer for the office of the Mayor of Edmonton.

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