Hour 1 of Ottawa Now for Fri. May 15th, 2026

While much of the attention around Alberta premier Danielle Smith’s proposed October 19 referendum has been on the possibility of separation from Canada, parts of the referendum package focus directly on immigration and newcomer access to public services—issues that get to the heart of the debate. According to the Government of Alberta’s referendum materials, the proposals include five questions aimed at expanding Alberta’s control over immigration, restricting access to some provincially funded services based on immigration status, and redefining eligibility for certain provincial...