Ottawa and Alberta are already discussing immigration levels, minister says

Eleanor Olszewski, the federal cabinet’s only minister from Alberta, says Ottawa is open to discussions with the province about immigration. Albertans vote Monday on a slate of referendum questions. Separation has drawn the most attention, but the other nine questions cover issues ranging from proposed constitutional changes to access to health care. About half of those nine focus on immigration.

Voters are being asked whether Alberta should have more control over who enters the province and whether Canadian citizens and permanent residents should receive priority for government-funded services. Another question proposes a one-year wait for temporary residents seeking certain social supports. A separate question asks whether temporary residents should have to pay fees to access public health care and education.

In an interview airing Sunday on CTV’s Question Period, Olszewski told host Vassy Kapelos the federal government is open to discussions if Alberta votes yes on those questions. She said the two governments are already talking, and cited Prime Minister Mark Carney’s remarks Thursday that a referendum was not needed to identify issues for discussion with Alberta or any other province. Asked whether that meant more provincial autonomy over immigration, Olszewski said immigration is a shared jurisdiction and the governments are discussing levels and sustainability.

Immigration Minister Lena Diab was asked at a separate news conference in Kitchener, Ont., on Friday whether Ottawa would give Alberta more policy powers if voters said yes to the relevant questions. She said the federal government is already addressing the issues through its levels plan and policies, and that she is working with provinces and territories to coordinate efforts. Diab also described immigration as a joint federal-provincial responsibility and said Ottawa would continue working with every province and territory toward what she called the world’s best immigration system.

Carney struck a different tone during a visit to Calgary ahead of a pro-federalist rally on Friday. He did not signal support for greater provincial control and urged the crowd not to vote in favour of the questions. He thanked attendees for what they had done and what they would do in the coming days, then urged them to mark their ballots, including by voting “No to the Nine.” The phrase refers to the nine referendum questions beyond separation.