Alberta’s record growth

By Chantelle de Jonge Chestermere-Strathmore MLA

Over the past year, Alberta has experienced record population growth of over 200,000 people – a number equivalent to two cities the size of Red Deer. This growth has increased the cost of living and strained public resources, creating many challenges for our province.

This past week, Premier Danielle Smith informed the federal government that Alberta rejects Ottawa’s new plan to settle thousands of additional asylum seekers in our province. Relocating thousands of asylum claimants without necessary financial support is not sustainable and would place significant pressure on provincial resources.

For generations, Albertans have welcomed newcomers who believe in freedom, hard work, and following the rules. We have proudly opened our doors to ambitious individuals who contribute to our economy and who respect cultures and faiths that are different from their own. This has always been the kind of immigration Albertans want to see, and under previous Prime Minister Stephen Harper, this was the kind of immigration that stood as a model to the world and enjoyed broad multipartisan support. The current federal government’s unrestrained open border policies – especially as they relate to those with temporary visas – have unilaterally destroyed Canada’s historic pro-immigration consensus while exacerbating shortages in housing, health care, education, and other critical social services.

Section 95 of the constitution is clear – immigration is an area of shared authority between the federal government and the provinces. Yet, the Trudeau government’s unrestrained open border policies permitting well over a million newcomers each year into Canada is causing significant challenges, and it’s not sustainable.

Our province is and has long been a beacon of freedom, opportunity, quality of life, and prosperity for millions across our country and world. And with that incredible success comes very real growth challenges that we are working to address. 

Alberta’s government joins provinces and premiers across Canada who are calling on Ottawa to immediately reintroduce sensible and restrained immigration policies – like the ones we saw under Stephen Harper – so that all provinces have the time and resources to sustainably catch up with growth, and to ensure those coming here closely align with our country’s economic needs.

Premier Smith has informed Prime Minister Trudeau that until further notice, Alberta is not open to having these additional asylum seekers settled in our province.

You may have heard Premier Smith’s address last week, in which she addressed those challenges. Notably, she also made a historic announcement on how to keep up with fast-rising student enrolment, Alberta’s government is committing $8.6 billion through the new School Construction Accelerator Program. This program will create more than 200,000 new and modernized spaces for students to learn, grow and reach their full potential. Starting in Budget 2025, Alberta’s government will kick-start up to 30 new schools and as many as eight modernizations and replacement schools every year for the next three years.

As always, please feel free to email to my office with your feedback and questions 

(Chantelle de Jonge is the MLA for Chestermere-Strathmore and the Parliamentary Secretary for Affordability and Utilities)