Premier assumes victory on referendum questions

Posted on May 7, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

By Zoe Mason
Southern Alberta Newspapers

Premier Danielle Smith says she expects to receive Albertans’ endorsement in the coming referendum, and would not expand on what may happen if she’s mistaken.

Smith’s UCP government launched a new webpage on April 23 to promote her government’s referendum questions on immigration and constitutional reform.

At a news conference unveiling the new campaign, Smith told reporters her government will not pursue any policies outlined in the questions until after results come in. However, Smith would not commit to adhering to the results should Albertans vote ‘no.’

“We put questions that we think we already have the majority of Albertans on board with,” she said. “If I don’t get a mandate, then we’ll have to address what we do at that time.”

Smith’s comments follow introduction of legislation to end the practice of clock changing on April 23, despite results of a 2021 referendum narrowly rejecting the proposal.

The premier unveiled a new website Albertans can visit to access information about the nine questions that will be put to voters on Oct. 19.

Five questions ask Albertans to endorse the government in pursuit of new powers over immigration.

The UCP government has already tabled legislation earlier this session that consolidates power over economic immigration in the hands of the province.

The remaining questions deal with constitutional reforms affecting courts, social services and the senate.

“The website makes it clear what this referendum is and what it isn’t. We want Albertans to understand what a yes vote means and the actions our government will take as a result,” said Smith.

Three citizen initiative proposals may still find their way onto October’s ballot, including competing questions on the future of Alberta’s place within the Canadian federation.

The Forever Canadian citizen initiative led by Thomas Lukaszuk was verified in December, collecting more than 430,000 signatures. It proposed the potential referendum question, ‘Do you agree that Alberta should remain within Canada?” but Lukaszuk has indicated he would prefer the question be voted on as a policy proposal in the house.

A legislative committee is deliberating on next steps.

The Alberta Prosperity Project was subject to a month-long stay preventing Elections Alberta from certifying the petition on April 10 when an Alberta judge determined the pause was needed to weigh Indigenous concerns that the separation campaign threatens treaty relationships protected by the Canadian constitution.

Smith says either question may still proceed to referendum.

“My position is that we should remain in Canada,” she said. “That’s the position of our government.”

Smith says she expects a judicial ruling on the future of the Alberta Prosperity Project’s referendum question in May.

Smith says the original language of the petition suggested it would go to referendum, and she remains open to that question joining the ballot.

She indicated the website will ultimately include information about all questions appearing on the ballot, including citizen initiative proposals, once those are finalized. The deadline for signature collection for the last initiative is June 10, meaning the ballot should be finalized by July.

The third citizen initiative question asks Albertans to weigh in on the future of coal mining on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, put forward by country musician Corb Lund.

The government’s new webpage alleges the UCP government spends upwards of $1 billion annually on social services such as education and health care for temporary foreign workers, international students, asylum seekers and their families.

Detailed breakdowns of that figure are unavailable.