By George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Macleod Gazette
February 23, 2026
Editor’s Note: Light profanity appears in a direct quotation in this story.
A nine-question referendum announced by the premier Thursday charts new territory for direct democracy, as the government looks to define and entrench an Alberta approach for dealing with immigration and Ottawa.
The UCP initiative appears to feature the most — and most complex — federal or provincial questions ever asked on a single referendum ballot in the country’s history.
The electorate’s participation will help the government shield Albertans from an intrusive Ottawa and its potentially harmful policies, Danielle Smith said during a televised and streamed address.
Direct Democracy or Distraction?
The Opposition, however, characterized the referendum slated for Oct. 19 as an intentionally confusing misdirection, drawing attention away from issues that matter most to Albertans.
The UCP is making immigrants and oil prices scapegoats for poor fiscal management, the NDP said.
Smith was unapologetic, saying Alberta needs protection from damaging federal policies while the government channels population growth in a way that supports the economy and allows government services to keep pace.
“I want you to know how confident I am in the judgment of Albertans on these and other delicate issues,” she said at the closing of her address. “Although there are some politicians and commentators that fear direct democracy, such as referendums, I do not.
“I trust the judgment of Albertans. I know that as a province, we will thoughtfully ponder, debate and ultimately come to a wise decision on these questions that will benefit our families and our fellow Albertans for generations, just as we’ve always done.”
Historical Precedent
Provincial and federal governments usually go with single-question referendums, although B.C. opted for eight questions in a controversial mail-in referendum in 2002 about the province’s relationship with First Nations.
The B.C. referendum endured wide criticism for poor and biased wordings, agenda pushing and leading inferences. Questions did garner more than 80 per cent yes-votes each, but only about 35 per cent of voters returned their ballots.
Jason Kenney’s UCP government in Alberta piggybacked two referendum questions onto local elections in 2021.
Year-round daylight time lost by a sliver. But the government of the day earned a mandate from voters to seek removal of equalization payments from the Constitution, a program the UCP still considers an unfair drain of dollars that belong in Alberta.
The new referendum will ask voters whether they support various changes in the way immigration works in their province, after population growth the premier said was spurred by federal immigration policies pushed Alberta past the five million mark.
Smith said that during the final five years of Justin Trudeau’s tenure as prime minister, Alberta grew by almost 600,000 people, “all while Ottawa throttled our most important job-creating industries and prioritized immigration away from economic migrants.”
One of five immigration-related questions reads: “Do you support the Government of Alberta 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?”
Three questions look at limits and charges for provincial services, depending on a resident’s citizenship status or type of residency.
One would support the government’s introduction of a law requiring proof of citizenship to vote in an Alberta provincial election.
Constitutional Hurdles
Four questions would call on Alberta to work with one or more fellow provinces to push for changes in the Constitution.
One of the questions seeks a voter verdict on having provincial governments select judges for the provincial King’s Bench and appeal courts. Another asks whether the Senate should be abolished.
A third floats the idea of letting provinces opt out of federal programs that “intrude on provincial jurisdiction” like health care, education and social services — while still receiving associated federal funding.
And a fourth constitutional question asks whether voters want “to protect provincial rights from federal interference” by prioritizing provincial laws when they conflict with federal laws.
Referendum questions empower the government to act when they earn a simple majority — that is, more than 50 per cent of valid votes. But that just triggers a process and doesn’t guarantee change.
Constitutional questions are the iffiest at forging new trails. They may send a message, but moving beyond symbolism is no small feat.
Major changes to the Constitution require backing from seven provincial legislative assemblies that represent at least half the country’s population, before being passed by the House of Commons and the Senate.
Translation: Ontario or Quebec need to be on board for any proposal to be more than a non-starter.
As for abolishing the Senate, that’s even more difficult. The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that all 10 provinces must agree to the move. Even then, both the House of Commons and the Senate itself must unanimously give consent.
‘Call the Election’
The NDP isn’t buying that the referendum is even necessary. If the questions are important to Smith and the UCP, the proper option is to go to the people in an election.
“Cut the bullshit and call the election,” NDP Deputy Leader Rakhi Pancholi told reporters during a Friday news conference.
Pancholi characterized the referendum as “a massive distraction from the real things Albertans expect their government to deliver,” like better health care, education and jobs, and a lowered cost of living.
The questions were “designed to be confusing,” said Pancholi, the member for Edmonton-Whitemud.
In an emailed response to Macleod Gazette questions, the premier said: “Look, I know a lot of folks are shocked we aren’t calling an election, given how well we are doing in the most trusted polls.
“But I have a year and a half left to keep making our province a better place to work and live, and these referendum questions will be a big part of that.”
Justice Minister Mick Amery said referendums and citizen initiatives reflect a UCP mandate to “strengthen public trust and encourage participation in our democracy.”
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He told a Friday press conference that the referendum “gives Albertans a clear opportunity to express their views and will amplify their voices. It’s an opportunity for Albertans to set the direction of our province for years to come.”
