CUPE Alberta calls for an election, says Smith’s referendum is a dangerous distraction from government’s mismanagement of public services

CUPE Alberta is condemning Premier Danielle Smith’s announcement of an anti-immigrant referendum that seeks permission for her government to make it harder for Albertans to vote.

“She should get back to work and focus on the issues that actually matter to Albertans,” said CUPE Alberta President Raj Uppal. “Albertans are facing actual crises in health care, in our classrooms, with the cost of living, and with jobs. Instead of taking accountability and fixing any of the problems her own government has created over the last six years, the Premier is trying to shift blame and divide our province.”

Smith has proposed introducing stricter voter identification rules, despite public data showing only seven instances of voter fraud in Alberta since 2013. CUPE Alberta says the move is a clear attempt to undermine confidence in elections, suppress voter participation, and create distrust of immigrants.

“Voter fraud is not an issue in Alberta. Full stop,” Uppal said. “You can’t change the rules of democracy to solve a problem that you’ve made up.”

CUPE National President Mark Hancock warned against the dangers of continuing to import American-style disinformation tactics into our country. “We don’t need to copy the worst parts of U.S. politics,” Hancock said. “Manufactured culture wars, anti-immigrant fearmongering, and violent oppression tear communities apart, just as we see south of the border. Our members and our communities deserve better.”

CUPE also strongly denounced the anti-immigrant tone of the proposed referendum questions.

“Immigrants are our co-workers, our neighbours, and essential members of our communities,” said Candace Rennick, CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer. “They work in our hospitals, our schools, our municipalities, and our social services. They are the backbone of our economy. Scapegoating newcomers will not fix overcrowded classrooms or emergency room wait times. Properly funding public services will.”

CUPE Alberta is calling for a provincial election so voters can have a direct and meaningful say in the direction of the province.

“If the Premier is so confident in her proposal, she should call an election,” Uppal said. “Albertans deserve the opportunity to vote on the future of public health care, public education, and the kind of province we want to live in, not be dragged into a convoluted, racist referendum designed to distract from government failure.”