Scapegoating and Separatists

On October 19, 2026, Albertans will vote on 10 referendum questions. Most of the conversation about the referendum has focused on a convoluted ‘separation question’ that asks whether Alberta should remain in Canada or the provincial government should hold a binding referendum on whether Alberta should separate from Canada. Less attention has been paid to the four questions that address constitutional issues (such as abolishing the Senate and giving the province more control over judicial appointments), and the five questions directly related to immigration. The five immigration questions are the subject of this policy brief.

Why are we talking about immigration and why are we talking about it now? In other words, what does immigration have to do with Alberta separatism? And why has the provincial government decided to put five questions related to immigration on the ballot?  

These five questions must be understood as a political tactic that combines a broader strategy of blaming the federal government for Alberta’s problems with an appeal to the far-right forces in the premier’s base of support. It is an age-old strategy of blaming minorities for the social, political, and economic challenges facing society. It is also one that is already having negative impacts in communities across the province.

Albertans are experiencing a scarcity of publicly available services, a family doctor shortage, long wait times for provincial services, and overcrowded classrooms. Cost of living is reportedly the number one concern in the province (Coletto 2026). This creates an environment ripe for scapegoating immigrant and migrant communities.

Shifting the blame for Alberta’s political and economic challenges onto minority communities — in this case immigrants and migrant workers — is a strategy likely to be effective, considering the broader national trend of falling support for immigration. In 2025, nearly 70 per cent of Albertans reported believing there was “too much immigration” to Canada. This aligns with trends nationally and a broader collapse in public opinion on immigration since 2022 (Environics Institute for Survey Research 2025).

The immigration questions rely on problematic anti-immigrant tropes advanced by far-right movements globally and leveraged by the separatists here in Alberta. When talking about immigration, both Premier Danielle Smith and the separatists have employed language consistent with this far-right rhetoric. These narratives are dangerous and damaging in any context. But when they’re promoted by a premier and her government, anti-immigrant tropes are much more likely to have a negative impact on society.

Bronwyn Bragg

Bronwyn Bragg is an assistant professor in the department of geography and environment at the University of Lethbridge. Specializing in migration, feminist political economy, and precarious work, she has published articles on racialized refugee work experiences, citizenship, family reunification, and immigration policy. Her research is supported by the Social Sciences Humanities Research Council of Canada. Her upcoming book, with McGill-Queen's University Press, discusses the integration experiences of Syrian refugee women and families in Canada.

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