Alberta’s referendum campaign is picking up in Calgary, with many events planned Wednesday examining immigration, provincial autonomy and the province’s future within Canada. The events come just over a month before Albertans vote on 10 referendum questions on Oct. 19. Former federal opposition leader and Reform Party founder Preston Manning will begin the day by announcing details of the Alberta and the West Assembly at a 10:30 a.m. news conference in downtown Calgary. The two-day virtual assembly will run Sept. 19 and 20 and be co-chaired by Manning and former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell. Organizers say it will feature competing perspectives on Alberta’s future, including calls for stronger demands within Confederation, greater provincial autonomy and full separation. Presenters will make their arguments before facing questions from assembly delegates. Premier Danielle Smith is among those scheduled to participate. Grassroots campaigns At noon, the grassroots #KeepCanadaSweet campaign will hold a news conference at Fish Creek Library. Organizers say two campaign volunteers have distributed more than 1,000 Italian cookies to Calgarians while encouraging them to participate in the referendum. The campaign uses generative artificial intelligence to produce materials, while volunteers carry out its community outreach. Founder Kempton Lam said the campaign is also encouraging eligible voters to request special ballots before the Sept. 25 deadline. “Canada is not just a place I live; it is my only home,” Lam said in a release. A separate noon webinar will examine why half of the referendum questions deal with immigration. Parkland Institute will present its new report, Scapegoating and Separatists: Why Immigration Is on the Ballot in October. The report’s author, University of Lethbridge assistant professor Bronwyn Bragg, will detail findings before taking questions during the online event. The research examines how immigration became part of the referendum and the alleged links between the ballot questions, separatist rhetoric and anti-immigration narratives. Wednesday’s events will conclude with the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good launching the get-out-the-vote phase of its Vote for the Common Good campaign. The assembly runs from 7 to 9 p.m. at Scarboro United Church. Organizers say it will help community members plan their voting and encourage others to participate. “Whatever your views on the referendum questions, I hope Albertans will engage, reflect and participate in shaping our shared future,” said Rev. Samaya Oakley of Calgary Unitarians. More referendum events The Canada West Foundation will hold another online referendum event on Sept. 29. Its Alberta in Confederation webinar will examine the potential effects of separation on pensions, public finances, mortgages, currency, Indigenous treaties, trade and the movement of goods across provincial and international borders. The panel will include economists, legal and trade experts, former public servants, business representatives and former Alberta cabinet minister Ted Morton. The foundation says it is not advocating for or against separation and intends to give voters a clearer understanding of what the process could involve. What’s on the ballot? Albertans will receive 10 separate ballots on Oct. 19. The first five questions deal with immigration, including provincial control over immigration, access to publicly funded services and proof-of-citizenship requirements for provincial elections. Questions six through nine propose constitutional changes involving judicial appointments, the Senate, opting out of federal programs and conflicts between provincial and federal laws. The final question asks Albertans to choose between remaining a province of Canada or directing the provincial government to begin the legal process required to hold a future binding referendum on separation. The Oct. 19 vote would not itself separate Alberta from Canada. Elections Alberta says all 10 referendum questions are non-binding. Anyone planning to vote by mail must request a special ballot by midnight on Sept. 25. Elections Alberta must receive completed mail-in ballots by 5 p.m. on Oct. 16. They cannot be delivered in-person. Albertans will vote in the referendum on Oct. 19.
