Alberta's economic prospects depend on immigration, chamber says as referendum nears

Alberta's economic prospects hinge on its ability to attract newcomers into the workforce, says a report by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce released 11 days before a provincial referendum.

Most attention has been on the question of whether Alberta should stay in Canada, but half of the 10 questions Albertans face in the Oct. 19 referendum centre on immigration.   

"As Alberta’s workforce and labour demands evolve, we need to make it easier, not harder, for businesses to access the labour they need to sustain the province’s long-term competitiveness and economic growth," Deborah Yedlin, the chamber's chief executive, said in a news release. 

The first referendum question asks whether Albertans support the province taking increased control over immigration in order to decrease it to more "sustainable levels." 

They're also being asked about limiting eligibility for provincial services like health care and education based on immigration status, requiring non-permanent residents to live in the province one year before becoming eligible for social supports, charging a "reasonable" fee to those individuals to access provincial services and requiring proof of citizenship to vote. 

Polling commissioned by the chamber suggests 47 per cent of members believe recent or proposed changes to immigration policies would hurt their business, with 11 per cent saying they would help. 

"When businesses cannot access the workers and skills they need, projects are delayed, expansion plans postponed and operating capacity constrained. Some businesses may choose to relocate," the report said. 

The survey also suggests more than half of its members are opposed to Alberta having more control over immigration and limiting eligibility for provincially funded programs. 

"Businesses are increasingly concerned that fees proposed by the Government of Alberta would be borne by them as employers, increasing the cost of labour on the heels of years of unprecedented wage growth," the chamber said. 

The government wouldn't determine the amount of a potential new charge until after the vote, though Premier Danielle Smith told Calgary business leaders last month that a health premium could be as much as $1,900.

Seventy-one per cent of businesses surveyed with 50 or more employees said that immigrant workers are important to their operations. 

The report argued immigration will be among the primary sources of labour-force growth in the years ahead. 

"Alberta competes with other provinces and countries for skilled workers, entrepreneurs and investment," it said. 

"Access to health care, education and other public services can factor into decisions about where workers and their families chose to live. Policies that increase the cost or difficulty of establishing a life in Alberta could make it more difficult for employers to attract and retain the talent they need." 

Alberta is projected to add almost two million residents between 2025 and 2051, with 62 per cent coming from outside Canada. 

The report said more than a quarter of Albertans were born outside of Canada. Immigration has added 892,000 people to Alberta's population since 2000, while natural population growth added 651,000 over the same period. 

The provincial government has argued it costs more than $1 billion a year to provide health care and education to temporary residents.

The chamber highlights what immigrants contribute, including $4.1 billion in Alberta personal income taxes in 2026. They also bring international business connections and market knowledge, it said. 

The chamber commissioned an economic analysis of separation from University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe. 

At a news conference last month, Tombe noted the skills and education obtained — and paid for — elsewhere that benefits Alberta. 

"Roughly speaking, on average, every migrant flowing into Alberta brings with them about $220,000 worth of taxpayer-funded education," he told reporters. 

"We get the benefit of those skills deployed in our economy, and we didn't have to pay for it."

When measured against the cost of providing social services, Tombe said "the gap is not all that close." 

With young people making up the biggest portion of new migrants, Tombe said it's not a big draw on the health-care system. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 8, 2026.

By Lauren Krugel | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.