Temporary residents shouldn't receive full benefits, says Alberta premier

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on Friday defended proposals to limit government benefits to non-permanent residents in the province.

Smith wants to put immigration measures and constitutional questions to Albertans via a referendum that will be held on Oct. 19. She announced the plan in a Thursday evening video address to Albertans.

During a news conference Friday, she reiterated that the costs of benefits like health care, education and social services are a strain on government coffers.

"What we're talking about is making sure the services are prioritized to the people who have registered a permanent stake in our country and our province," Smith said in response to a reporter's question.

"That's Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Temporary individuals should be treated as that."

During the news conference, Smith pointed to foreign workers, international students and asylum-seekers as examples of temporary residents in the province.

Proposed referendum questions include asking Albertans about creating premiums and residency requirements for non-permanent residents to access social supports, and the province exerting greater control over immigration, prioritizing economic migrants.

Smith said Ontario doesn't provide health benefits to temporary workers. However, the Ontario government website says the province does cover workers under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan if they have a work permit valid for six months or longer, work full-time, and reach a minimum hours threshold.

Dr. Rachel Talavlikar, medical director for the Calgary Refugee Health Clinic, worries the referendum questions will whip up xenophobia and racism toward refugees, temporary foreign workers and international students.

She said Smith is wrongly blaming them for their impact on the Alberta treasury, and said the 30 per cent drop in the price of oil is the most significant factor.

"We're choosing to suddenly make it convenient to say, 'Well, this group of immigrants is to blame for everything,'" Talavlikar said. "So that's the thing that makes me really scared for them."

Talavlikar said health care for refugee claimants is covered by the Interim Federal Health Program. Education would be covered by the province, but she said charging those students would provide the province with very little revenue.

Talavlikar's concerns were echoed by Michael Greene, senior partner at Sherritt Greene Immigration Law in Calgary.

Greene said Smith's desire to limit temporary workers' access to health care is puzzling given that they pay taxes just like citizens and permanent residents.