Alberta panel formed to fight federal overreach questioned over proposed cuts to newcomers
"I can't comment on what the province has put up in the website," Adam Legge, president of the Business Council of Alberta, said in an interview Wednesday.
Legge and University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe are two of 15 people introduced by Premier Danielle Smith this week for the Alberta Next panel.
The panel, led by Smith, is set to tour the province this summer to hear concerns from citizens surrounding ways to stop unwarranted meddling in Alberta's affairs from Prime Minister Mark Carney's government. The panel is to recommend a series of questions to be put to a referendum next year.
Legge, who stood beside Smith the day before at a press conference announcing the panel, said he agreed with messaging on the panel's website that blames housing costs and unemployment on "disastrous" immigration rates.
In the interview, he said immigration levels, especially for temporary foreign workers and international students, are out of control.
"The numbers have gotten so high that Canada simply cannot keep up from a social service standpoint, housing standpoint, access to doctors and physicians standpoint," he said.
But he declined to comment on the panel polling Albertans on cutting social services like health care and education to immigrants not sanctioned by Alberta.
Tombe, in an interview, also said the panel's website ideas originate with the government.
"I can't speak to the government's marketing decisions," Tombe said. "Politicians of all parties, of all governments, are in the business of persuading."
Asked if he agreed that cutting service access was a solution, Tombe said he didn't agree with the immigration problems as they were illustrated on the panel's website.
He said it's not clear if the government is more concerned about population pressures, international students, or housing shortages but said in each instance reality is more complicated than what is laid out by the government.
"If we can clearly define what the actual concern is, then we can get into a more productive policy conversation about how to address it," he said.
'Disastrous' and done
The panel's website says immigration over the past decade has been "disastrous" and done "without any sort of proper vetting."
"Housing prices have skyrocketed. Unemployment keeps increasing as immigration outpaces job growth. And sadly, many of the divisions and disputes that plague other countries have begun making their way into ours," the website reads.
To counteract this, the website says Alberta could issue its own immigration permits and cut off those who don't have them from accessing provincially-funded services.
Smith has spoken about the panel for months, characterizing it as part of a two-track process, to listen to Albertans' concerns while also negotiating with Ottawa on ways to reduce federal rules and policies Smith says are undermining energy development and Alberta's overall prosperity.
Smith's government has also loosened referendum rules, making it easier for citizens to gather signatures for public votes on hot topics including separating from Canada.
The immigration proposal and messaging on other ideas for consideration drew criticism from provincial and federal counterparts.
In Calgary, Federal Industry Minister Melanie Joly, asked by reporters about the panel, said she was "not necessarily" keeping up with it, but added, "I'm personally a very important proponent of national unity."
Alberta Independent Senator Paula Simons posted on social media that Smith's government was embarking on a "vile hate campaign" when it comes to its proposed immigration measures.
"This bitter xenophobia is as un-Albertan as it's possible to be."
WATCH | Alberta's strained relationship with Ottawa: Can it be mended?
Will premier's Alberta Next panel reset the province's relationship with Canada? | Power & Politics
2 days ago
Duration 2:57
As Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announces the members of the Alberta Next panel who will tour the province with her to gather Albertans' views on their relationship with Ottawa, the CBC's Jason Markusoff tells Power & Politics the consultations may result in simultaneous referendum questions on issues like removing the province from the Canada Pension Plan and moving forward on a sovereign Alberta.
Opposition Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said the panel's ideas are "worrisome" and "full of extremist language that has no place in our province."
Smith's press secretary, Sam Blackett, responded to emailed questions on the immigration issue by sending quotes from the panel's website.
He also said that a potential Alberta-approved immigration permit would be granted to those who move to the province under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, which fast-tracks the permanent residency process for workers in sought after sectors like health care, technology and law enforcement.
Blackett said permanent residents also wouldn't be blocked from accessing services.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
4 minutes ago
- National Post
Conservative MP says federal inaction on wildfires led to Atlantic Canada forest bans
OTTAWA — An Alberta Conservative MP is blaming the Liberal government for a pair of contentious provincial bans on outdoor activities, saying federal officials didn't do enough to stave off tinder dry conditions in Atlantic Canada. Article content Michelle Rempel Garner told reporters in Ottawa that years of Liberal inaction on wildfire preparedness forced Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to take the unprecedented action of closing off wooded areas to the public. Article content Article content Article content 'Four full wildfire seasons ago, the Liberals promised more water bombers, more firefighters. Where are they?' said Rempel Garner, referring to a 2021 Liberal campaign promise to dedicate $500 million to community firefighting. Article content Article content '(W)henever there's a major crisis, what the Liberal government has done by their inaction has conditioned Canadians to expect that the only response they can see … is to restrict their movement,' she continued. Article content Rempel Garner wouldn't say whether she objected to the provincial bans themselves. Article content The sweeping provincial forest bans have divided conservatives along both regional and ideological lines, with some drawing drawing comparisons to COVID restrictions. Article content Ontario MP Leslyn Lewis, for example, speculated on social media that the bans could spiral into broader lockdowns. Article content 'While the government says this is to prevent forest fires, the approach has left many feeling discouraged, disconnected, and wondering if there's a bigger purpose at play,' tweeted Lewis. Article content Article content Other Conservatives, such as ex-national campaign manager Fred DeLorey have defended the measures. Article content DeLorey, who is from Nova Scotia, wrote in a recent Substack post that the province's forest ban was the product of 'hard-earned wisdom.' Article content 'Here's the problem: Nova Scotia is built differently than the rest of the country … When conditions are this dry, even low-risk activity becomes high-stakes,' wrote DeLorey. Article content DeLorey is a close ally of Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, who last week announced a 12-week ban on entering the woods, carrying a fine of $25,000. Article content New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt followed Houston's lead over the weekend in closing off the woods to recreational activities. No fine had been set as of press time. Article content Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre hasn't said whether he supports the provincial restrictions. Article content The office of Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Rempel Garner's accusation of Liberal inaction on wildfire preparedness. Article content
CBC
5 minutes ago
- CBC
Conservatives vow to introduce bill preventing judges from weighing immigration status in sentencing
Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner says she'll introduce legislation when Parliament returns that would amend the Criminal Code, preventing judges from considering a non-citizen's immigration status during sentencing.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Moose Jaw city council moves ahead with bylaw to require approval of supportive housing projects
Moose Jaw City Hall can be seen in this file photo In a near split vote, Moose Jaw councillors passed a motion to amend the city's zoning bylaw to require a council vote for supportive housing projects in some areas. The motion, presented by Coun. Patrick Bailey, requests supportive housing be reclassified from 'Permitted Use' to a 'Discretionary Use' in three zoning districts. 'This motion is a very simple change within the bylaw structure we have in the city,' Bailey said at a council meeting Monday night. 'The two uses result in the same path if they're followed and done in the correct way.' The amendment seeks to expand the use of council discretion for applications related to initiatives including residential care homes, supportive housing, and community service institutions, and introduce additional administrative processes such as mandatory public notification and council review. Moose Jaw already bans supportive housing projects in most zones, with council discretion in medium-density residential areas. The amendment would add high density residential areas, the city's core and commercial districts to the discretionary use. 'We're talking about public engagement, consultation in your neighborhood,' Bailey added. 'Where you live, where you walk the streets and what you do. There should be some added discretion applied to it.' Council passed the motion to task city administration with formulating the revised bylaw 4-3. Councillors Bailey, Delaurier, Logan and Mayor James Murdock voted in favour, while Councillors Eby, Luhning and Warren were against the motion. 'There would be disastrous, unintended consequence,' Coun. Heather Eby said. In a report to council, administration warned the bylaw change could result in extended delays for applicants seeking to establish supportive housing developments. At its worst, administrators added the city could face a legal challenge on the grounds of discrimination. 'I am not comfortable opening up the City of Moose Jaw for litigation,' Eby said. 'There are instances where it happens. I don't want Moose Jaw being on CTV National News for that reason.' According to administration, other Canadian cities – including Winnipeg – have attempted similar bylaw amendments which faced legal challenges. 'In general, land use regulations that distinguish uses based on the characteristics of their occupants, rather than the physical form or function of the use, have been subject to legal scrutiny in other jurisdictions,' the report said. 'Supportive housing is about people,' Coun. Dawn Luhning said. 'When we talk about people zoning – if this passes – this is what Moose Jaw is going to start doing. [Council] is going to be deciding what's appropriate for certain neighborhoods.' Other council members in support of the motion believed there would be added steps of consultation as part of the process. 'We need more community involvement,' Coun. Carla Delaurier said. 'We're looking at specialized services within our residential areas, specifically.' 'With what we allow under supportive housing, a 'sex offender hostel' could easily be set up in any area. Would there be any public accountability there?' she added. Additionally, Moose Jaw does not permit emergency residential shelters within low-density residential areas, including one and two-unit dwellings, semi-detached dwellings, and street townhouses; on sites deemed unsuitable due to adjacent land uses that may pose life safety risks; or within 250 metres of any public or private school. 'These restrictions are designed to emphasize that the city is regulating land use and building form, not the people occupying these facilities,' administration added. 'This is through and through discrimination against people [who] require different needs than maybe the rest of us,' Coun. Luhning said. 'We're not saying, 'No, you can't have these facilities,' Coun. Jamey Logan responded. 'We're saying, 'you have to do your homework ahead of time and get some engagement,' to bring it to council.' Moose Jaw's city administration is expected to return to council on Sept. 22 with the revised bylaw wording for final approval.
