Alberta Referendum 2026 – What Does it Mean?

AACT version of the referendum questions in plain language

When you vote, the questions you see are long and complex. You will not see our plain language wording. Take some time now to pick your answer (Yes or No to #1 – 9, 1 or 2 to #10) based on the plain question.

When you vote, look for the words we have put in bold letters to tell you which question you are looking at. Then answer the way you had decided based on the plain words here.

Ballot 1 of 10

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?

In plain words: Should Alberta be able to decide who can move here from other countries?

Ballot 2 of 10

Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law mandating that only Canadian citizens, permanent residents and individuals with an Alberta-approved immigration status will be eligible for provincially-funded programs, such as health care, education and other social services?

In plain words: Should Alberta be able to make newcomers to Alberta pay for their own health care, education and any social services they need, even if they work and pay taxes?

Ballot 3 of 10

Assuming that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify for social support programs as they do now, do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law requiring individuals with a non-permanent legal immigration status to reside in Alberta for at least 12 months before qualifying for any provincially-funded social support programs?

In plain words: Should Alberta make people live in Alberta for a year before they can get social supports, even if they work and pay taxes?

Ballot 4 of 10

Assuming that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify for public health care and education as they do now, do you support the Government of Alberta charging a reasonable fee or premium to individuals with a non-permanent immigration status living in Alberta for their and their family’s use of the health care and education systems?

In plain words: Should Alberta make newcomer families pay fees for health care and school, even if they work and pay taxes?

Ballot 5 of 10

Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law requiring individuals to provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate or citizenship card, to vote in an Alberta provincial election?

In plain words: Should Alberta make people show proof of citizenship (not just where they live) to vote?

Ballot 6 of 10

Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to have provincial governments, and not just the federal government appointed to provincial King’s Bench and Appeal courts?

In plain words: Should Alberta pick the judges for King’s Bench and Appeal courts in Alberta?

Ballot 7 of 10

Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to abolish the unelected federal Senate?

In plain words: Should Alberta try to get rid of the Canadian Senate?

Ballot 8 of 10

Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to allow provinces to opt out of federal programs that intrude on provincial jurisdiction, such as health care, education, and social services, without a province losing any of the associated federal funding for use in its social programs?

In plain words: Should provinces get to keep money from the Canadian government for programs they run (like health care, education and social services), but not have to follow the Canadian government’s rules for those programs?

Ballot 9 of 10

Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to better protect provincial rights from federal interference by giving a province’s laws dealing with provincial or shared areas of constitutional jurisdiction priority over federal laws when the province’s laws and federal laws conflict?

In plain words: If a Canadian law and Alberta’s law disagree, should Alberta’s law be seen as the one to obey?

Ballot 10 of 10 – Choose Option 1 or Option 2

Option 1: Alberta should remain a province of Canada

Option 2: The Government of Alberta should commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada

In plain words:

Option 1: Alberta should stay in Canada.

Option 2: Alberta should hold another vote about whether to stay or leave Canada.