The Ballot Just Got Bigger: Here’s What Albertans Will Be Voting On
Late last week, Premier Danielle Smith addressed Albertans about the upcoming October 19th referendum, announcing a 10th question will be added to the ballot:
"Should Alberta remain a province of Canada or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?"
The referendum process emerged from the Government of Alberta’s Alberta Next Panel consultation, launched in 2025 to explore questions around provincial autonomy and Alberta’s future within Canada.
The latest question was added after Albertans submitted a petition calling for a referendum on separation from Canada. While the original petition was invalidated by the courts, revised wording – the wording shared above - has been proposed in an effort to make the question legally acceptable for the provincial ballot.
With 10 questions now on the referendum ballot, October 19th is shaping up to be one of the most consequential votes in Alberta's recent history. Several of these questions have direct implications for nonprofit service delivery, workforce, and funding. Many nonprofits serve newcomer populations, deliver provincially funded programs, and operate in areas where federal-provincial jurisdiction intersects with the services they provide.
Over the coming months, the Nonprofit Chamber will be diving into what each question could mean for nonprofits, communities, and public policy in Alberta, and Nonprofits Vote will be making sure you have the tools, information, and resources you need to go vote on October 19th.
What is on the Ballot?
The ten questions fall into three categories:
Immigration (5 questions)
These questions ask Albertans whether the province should:
take greater provincial control over immigration levels and priorities,
restrict access to provincially funded services for some non-permanent residents,
impose residency waiting periods for social supports,
charge fees or premiums for healthcare and education for some temporary residents,
require proof of citizenship to vote in provincial elections.
The immigration questions are non-binding, which means the results of the vote are advisory.
Constitutional and Provincial Autonomy (4 questions)
These questions ask whether Alberta should work with other provinces to pursue constitutional amendments that would:
give provinces authority over appointing provincial court judges,
abolish the federal Senate,
allow provinces to opt out of federal programs without losing funding,
give provincial laws priority over federal laws in some shared jurisdiction areas.
The constitutional questions are binding, which means depending on the results of the vote, the Government of Alberta is obligated to pursue the steps towards implementation. Federal constitutional amendments require agreement between the federal parliament and the provincial government in question OR federal parliament and 7 provinces that represent 50% of the Canadian population.
Separation (1 question)
This question asks whether Alberta should:
remain a province of Canada or begin the legal processes to hold a binding provincial referendum on separation.
The separation question will undergo a review by the Federal government under the Clarity Act, where the House of Commons will decide if the proposed question is clear enough for voters. As far as what we know now, it is expected to be presented to voters in a multiple-choice, checkbox format. Voters will be asked to choose one of the above options.
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Is your organization looking to get involved in the referendum? The Nonprofit Chamber has created a one-pager for Alberta’s nonprofits and registered charities on what they need to know about taking a position, spending money, and staying onside.
Stay tuned! We're ramping up our big vote energy and getting ready to help make sense of what's on the ballot and to once again get out the nonprofit vote. Make sure you are signed up to Nonprofits Vote to get the late