Alberta Premier Ramps Up Call for Immigration Changes at Meeting with Calgary Business Leaders

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has ramped up calls for changes to federal immigration policies, warning the province could take the lead — if action is not taken.

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Speaking to a sold-out crowd of 800 people at a breakfast event hosted by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, Smith said immigration levels have become unsustainable — especially in Alberta.

“We hear people can’t get a family doctor. Rents have gone up. Housing affordability is difficult,” Smith told the largely-business crowd.

“All of these things happen if you’re out of balance with the number of new arrivals into the province versus the capacity of the industry and government to keep up with services.”

Smith said if balance isn’t achieved, Alberta may have to “take action”, including deciding on work permits as well as “pathways to permanent residence”.

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Alberta’s Immigration Boom

According to the premier, newcomers made up 0.6 per cent of Alberta’s population — less than 300,000 a year — from 2009-2019.

Last year (2024) alone, she said, it was 1.8 million.

“Something dramatically changed in (federal) government policy from before COVID to after COVID,” she said.  

“They brought in too many people, from too many streams, when our old immigration system used to be principally centred around job creation.”

“I think it should go back to being principally centred around job creation.”

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Immigrant serving agency TIES (The Immigrant Education Society), which attended the event, agreed that job creation is key.

“Many newcomers are helping fill up the labour market gaps by taking on some essential jobs, which otherwise may be vacant,” TIES Pres., & CEO Sally Zhao added.

“A lot of newcomer entrepreneurs are also creating jobs for other people by setting up their own businesses.” 

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“Alberta is Calling” Campaign

Smith’s call for changes to immigration follows another call in 2022.

The Alberta is Calling campaign attempted to lure skilled workers to Alberta by providing financial incentives.

Smith said the campaign was launched before she became premier, and just after the COVID-19 pandemic.  

She added her government didn’t know that “all of the restrictions, on all the (immigration) programs, were coming off at the same time.”

“So, what ended up happening is that Alberta, who is accustomed to getting 12 per cent or less of the newcomers, in those three years – we ended up getting 22 per cent of the newcomers.”

“Yes, we needed to have more people come to Alberta to help grow our economy, but we needed to have a level that we could support.”

Zhao said the majority of newcomers come to Canada with the intention to contribute — both economically and culturally.

They just need the chance to do so.

“If we don’t invest in the immigrants that have chosen to make Alberta their home, we’re doing everyone a disservice — not just the immigrants, but the society as a whole,” Zhao said.

“It could cost us more in the end as a society to withhold essential services.” 

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Youth Unemployment Crisis

Along with healthcare, housing and other funding pressures, Smith added employment has also been challenging for Alberta.

She pointed to youth unemployment rates which have soared to a high of 17 per cent nationwide.

“There is a major youth unemployment crisis in Alberta,” Smith said.  

Smith said her government has launched a new incentive designed to help young people get their start working.

The Alberta Youth Employment Incentive will provide grants to employers to offset costs related to hiring, training and employing youth between the ages of 15-24.

The premier told business leaders this is the prime time to hire young people.

“If they don’t get their first job, they’re not going to get their second or third.”  

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Media RSVP, Interviews & Inquiries:

Tomasia DaSilva

Media and Relationship Strategist

Email: tomasiadasilva@immigrant-education.ca

Phone: 403-291-0002

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