Alberta’s open for business, but closed for asylum seekers

Premier Danielle Smith recently announced that Alberta is not open to welcoming asylum seekers to settle in the province. Smith stressed a lack of funds to take in asylum seekers and the importance of welcoming those with “shared values.” This comes amid the third phase of the Alberta is Calling campaign, which first began in 2022.

It seems Smith has no problem with welcoming people to Alberta — as long as they are a certain type of person.

When pressed to share what Alberta’s shared values are, a representative of Smith told CTV News “freedom, family, faith, community, and free enterprise.” This begs the question of what exactly Smith defines as faith, community, and family. Some members of the United Conservative Party (UCP) have expressed anti-immigration ideas, which some think Smith is catering to.

To understand the situation, it’s important to understand the difference between those who immigrate to Canada or migrate within Canada and those seeking asylum. As per the United Nations (UN), in Canada you qualify for asylum if “you are fleeing your country because you fear persecution or risk to your life.” To apply for asylum, you must have fled your country of origin and be at the Canadian border. To be clear seeking asylum is not an “easy” way to immigrate. 

Political scientist Trevor Harrison said that some governments have intentionally convoluted “immigrant and refugee titles.” Smith did not clarify the distinction in her statement or subsequent posts. Harrison stated that “Smith knows they’re not the same.”

But Smith has been clear that she doesn’t think the title of asylum seeker holds the same weight it used to. The muddling of the terms is damaging to both asylum seekers and immigrants alike. Furthermore, Smith’s comment diminishes the struggle of every person seeking asylum in Canada.

Beyond her dismissal of asylum seekers today, Smith’s statement around who’s welcome in Alberta is harmful. Smith said faith is one of Alberta’s shared values, but each religion is different and many have contrasting views. Additionally, many people do not associate with any religion. No one’s opportunity to settle in Alberta should be based on their faith or how faithful they are.

Smith’s statement on values sends the message that the UCP is not welcoming of anyone who doesn’t fit neatly in a certain box. But even for current residents of Alberta, her remarks are alienating. They should be able to trust their premier fight for them, regardless of their differences.

The other reason Smith gave for not welcoming asylum seekers to come to Alberta was that “[Alberta] simply cannot afford it.” But this reason makes little sense considering federal Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, Marc Miller, explicitly said there’s no plan to impose asylum seekers without compensation or consent of premiers.

Miller also claimed on X that Smith was “complaining that federal immigration limits were undercutting growth in the Alberta economy.” According to Miller, Smith “came to Ottawa for 10,000 permanent residency spaces for Ukrainians fleeing Russian aggression.”

Additionally, the UCP has spent millions on the “Alberta is Calling” campaign to attract people to Alberta. The third phase of the campaign involves incentivizing skilled trade workers to come to Alberta by offering a $5,000 bonus to “help offset the cost of moving to Alberta.” As per Budget 2024, the province has allocated $10 million for the bonus. So Alberta can’t afford to help asylum seekers, but it can afford to attract other Canadians?

Last year, Smith had ambitious aspirations to double Alberta’s population by 2050. So why the sudden change? It seems that for whatever reason, asylum seekers are not the people the UCP wants moving to Alberta. But everyone deserves equal opportunity to build a life in Alberta, regardless of whether their values align with Smith’s.

Smith has made it clear she is unwilling to welcome people in Alberta who do not conform to the values held by the UCP. To justify it, she’s convoluting the facts and going back on what she’s said in the past year. But that doesn’t make it any less alienating and alarming to hear.