Alberta asks for realistic immigration policies: Minister Schow

"Alberta's government is deeply concerned by the federal government's recent decision to invite 10,000 new applications to sponsor parents and grandparents of newcomers at a time when provinces are already struggling to meet the demands placed on health care, education, housing and social services due to Ottawa's reckless immigration policies.

"Under the federal Liberal government, Canada's immigration levels have ballooned - almost two million newcomers entered Canada last year alone - without any regard for the provinces that are tasked with delivering frontline services. This latest move will only serve to further increase the unsustainable pressures on our hospitals, schools and housing markets.

"Alberta has a long history of welcoming newcomers who contribute to our communities and economy. While we respect the importance of family reunification, inviting large numbers of parents and grandparents into the country without proper coordination with provinces places disproportionate strain on already busy health systems. This creates serious concerns for both Albertans and the newcomers themselves, who may not receive timely care if our system is overwhelmed.

"Immigration must be sustainable and aligned with provincial capacity and priorities. The federal government cannot continue to make unilateral decisions that ignore the realities on the ground.

"We are once again calling on Ottawa to respect its partnerships with provinces and territories, reduce total immigration to under 500,000 annually, and to give provinces more say in how immigration targets are set. Our systems need time to catch up before more pressure is added."

Related information

• Alberta Advantage Immigration Program | Alberta.ca