Calgary Alliance Welcomes That Albertans Have Chosen Unity Within Canada, While Being Profoundly Concerned That the Anti-Immigrant Questions Will Harm Newcomers and Our Community by Limiting Access to Education and Health Care.

Today, as we reflect on the results of Alberta’s referendum, we have mixed feelings. We celebrate that Albertans have chosen to remain in Canada.  These results also show us that we still have work to do as a community to ensure the dignity and rights of all people are respected, no matter their status or where they come from.

As an Alliance, our leaders developed and championed  “No to the Nine” before the Third Party Advertiser Rules silenced so many charities, including our members, from speaking out clearly about the impact of this referendum. We thank those who carried not just the slogan, but the movement forward, including Mayor Farkas and Prime Minister Carney. 

We also celebrate how religious leaders from our members, including leaders from the Muslim, Roman Catholic, Anglican, United, and Lutheran traditions, spoke out about how the referendum questions on immigration threatened our values, which guide us to treat all people with dignity. 

We are also celebrating our many members who led discussions, educated their communities, encouraged people to vote, and even made cookies and coffee for those waiting to vote. 

These results show us that there is work that we still need to do to protect everyone's right to healthcare and education, regardless of status or country of origin. This referendum does not change the reality that recent immigrants contribute more in taxes than they cost us in services. This result does not change the reality that our health care system, our agriculture, and many industries all rely on immigrants so they can function. This does not change the reality that unless you are Indigenous, you and your family were also once recent immigrants in need of a community that would welcome and support them. 

As an Alliance that stands for the Common Good, we thank Albertans for staying united as part of Canada. This is tempered by our profound concern that our province has also chosen to remove the right to education from children based on their parents’ immigration status. We are profoundly concerned that our province has voted to limit access to health care for families who pay taxes. We are horrified that ordinary folks who responded to the “Alberta is Calling” campaign now find themselves the target of scapegoating. 

Now it is our work to hold our political leaders accountable; scapegoating must end. 

As an Alliance, we are committed to continuing our work for the common good, grounded in the belief that every human being–regardless of who they are and how they came to be here–is worthy of dignity, respect, and support. To that end, we will continue to tirelessly advocate for affordable housing. We call on governments of all levels to ensure that immigrants’ credentials and experience are recognized so that they can thrive and share their gifts. To build a society that values the common good, we must strengthen our public education and health care system. We must ensure everyone can access mental health supports. 

At this time, thoughts and hearts are with every person and family who are now worried about whether their child can go to school. Our prayers are with every family that now worries if they can see a doctor when they are sick. Our prayers are with every community that is worried that the place they have claimed as their home, the place and people that welcomed them, have now turned on them. Our commitment, as an Alliance for the Common Good, is to continue to stand with you and alongside you today, and in the days to come.