Alberta’s Premier Claims Immigrants Are a Burden. Where’s the Proof?

Author(s): González, X.

Date: 2026

Resource: The Tyee.

In February, when Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced a provincial referendum set to take place in October, she framed immigrants as a burden to Alberta taxpayers.

“Throwing the doors wide open to anyone and everyone across the globe has flooded our classrooms, emergency rooms and social support systems with far too many people, far too quickly,” Smith said during a Feb. 19 provincial address that anticipated a provincial budget $9.4 billion in the red. […]

Should Smith’s referendum question on public health-care and education premiums for non-permanent Alberta residents become legislation, companies hiring temporary foreign workers would have to absorb the cost of these premiums to remain competitive, said Catherine Connelly. She’s a professor of human resources and management at McMaster University and director of the McMaster Centre for Research on Employment and Work. […]

“A lot of people assume that companies hire temporary foreign workers just to save money,” Connelly said. “But it’s more than that. When the program works as intended, it’s a win-win-win.” […]

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Related Research Areas: Vulnerable Workers