阿尔伯塔省公投欲限制移民福利权利

阿尔伯塔省本周举行公投，就是否限制新来移民获得医疗、教育和社会援助的权利征询居民意见1。非官方结果显示，这项关于移民的公投问题可能获得通过1。

公投涉及两个核心问题：政府是否应该立法确保只有加拿大公民、永久居民和"获阿尔伯塔省批准的移民身份"者可获得医疗和教育1；以及新来者是否应在阿尔伯塔省居住满12个月后才能获得部分社会援助1。

阿尔伯塔省政府以人口快速增长为由支持这些限制措施，声称医院和学校已经超负荷1。省长丹妮尔·史密斯在社交媒体上表示："每1加元的客工税收，纳税人要支付10加元的服务费。这是不可持续的。"1根据政府数据，临时居民占阿尔伯塔省总人口的近6%1，虽然产生约1.5亿加元税收，但每年耗费该省超过10亿加元的医疗、教育及其他社会服务1。

然而，这一举措面临批评。尽管该省经济在很大程度上依赖外来工人填补劳动力缺口1，但批评人士警告，这些限制性措施可能使工人及其家庭的处境更加脆弱1。

Alberta held a referendum this week asking residents whether the government should limit newcomers' access to healthcare, education, and social assistance.1 The ballot measures sought to determine public support for two key restrictions: one would establish legal requirements ensuring only Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and migrants with "Alberta-approved immigration status" could access medical and educational services,1 while the other would impose a 12-month residency requirement before newcomers could qualify for certain social benefits.1

Unofficial results suggest the immigration-related questions are likely to pass, despite the province's economy relying significantly on temporary workers to fill labor gaps.1 Temporary residents comprise nearly 6 percent of Alberta's total population.1 The government contends that while temporary residents generate approximately 1.5 billion Canadian dollars in tax revenue annually, they cost the province over one billion Canadian dollars yearly in healthcare, education, and other social services.1 Premier Danielle Smith stated on social media: "For every one dollar in temporary foreign worker tax revenue, taxpayers pay ten dollars in service costs. This is not sustainable."1 The government has justified the restrictive measures by citing rapid population growth that has strained hospitals and schools, though critics warn the proposals could leave workers and their families more vulnerable.1 Separately, unofficial results indicate referendums on provincial separation and constitutional matters are expected to fail.1