Referendum is an insult to immigrants

On October 19, a referendum will be held in our province of Alberta, allowing voters to cast ballots on a total of ten different political and constitutional questions. Citizens will be asked whether Alberta should remain part of Canada or whether the provincial government should initiate legal steps toward a binding independence referendum. However, the first nine questions have little to do with separating from Canada; instead, they address issues such as greater provincial control over immigration and access to publicly funded social services and programs. The immigration questions are an insult to all immigrants who have contributed to building Alberta and making the province a success story. The Oct. 15 issue of the Mill Woods Mosaic has several articles dealing with the referendum. MLA Gurtej Singh Brar says that Alberta’s future deserves more than divisive referendum questions (page 6). Canadian Senator Paula Simons calls attention to the essential economic value of immigrants to Alberta’s future (page 9). And Tom Monto says that the referendum puts Alberta on a dangerous and unnecessary road (page 12). Our future is at stake! Therefore, on October 19, we must exercise our right to vote and say: “No to the Nine” and “Stay in Canada”!

‍Arnim Joop 
Publisher & Editor
mwmosaic@telus.net