International students are an important part of Alberta’s post-secondary community. But with questions in the upcoming referendum creating new financial barriers for some temporary residents, there are growing concerns about whether international students will continue to see Alberta as an accessible and welcoming place to study.
Five of the referendum’s 10 questions relate to imposing limits on immigration and charging temporary residents a fee to access basic services, including health care, for a period of time upon arriving in Alberta.
Some groups have accused the government of scapegoating immigrants and refugees to deflect from their own failings. In the chamber, Alberta Sen. Paula Simons called the five questions related to newcomers “noxious.”
Roberta Lexier, a professor at Mount Royal University’s department of humanities and general education, said international students could be affected if additional costs are introduced.
“International students, if this referendum passes and if the government makes these changes, are going to have to take into consideration the extra costs of paying for healthcare or other social services,” Lexier said.
Beyond the potential financial burden, Lexier said the referendum questions could also influence how international students — and all newcomers — perceive Alberta.
“I think people should be worried about what kind of message these questions send to those who already live here or who might be considering moving here,” she said.
Lexier’s concerns highlight how proposed fees for temporary residents could contribute to feelings of exclusion among newcomers, beyond the financial burden they may face.
While international students stand to lose if some of these questions are approved, their voices have largely been absent from public discussion surrounding the referendum.
“International students, as far as I can tell, have not even entered the conversation,” said Lexier.
MRU student Jasleen Kaur, who was born in Italy and moved to Calgary with her family about six years ago, agrees that students and other groups who may be impacted by the outcome of some of the referendum questions should also have a voice in the discussion.
“I do think they should hear out everyone’s opinion like international students, students in general, domestic, or people that are not even from Canada,” said Kaur.
For Kaur, the referendum has also created uncertainty about her own future in Alberta.
“If Alberta were to separate, the whole referendum thing, it does change my perspective for living here in the future,” she said. “I’d rather move to BC or something.”