Council officially declares support for staying in Canada. Mayor Andrew Knack encourages Edmontonians to vote down all 10 Oct. 19 questions

By Eric Bowling Published Jul 24, 2026 Edmonton Journal

Mayor Andrew Knack is calling out nine upcoming Oct. 19 referendum questions regarding immigration as racist and is encouraging Edmontonians to vote ‘no’ on all of them.

On July 8, council voted 12-0, with Ward tastawiyiniwak Coun. Karen Principe absent, “that the City of Edmonton declare that Edmonton and Alberta are a vital part of Canada and that Alberta should remain a province of Canada.” It was council’s second-last decision before the summer break.

City council’s only official stance at this point is on the question of whether Alberta should remain in Canada or not, but during a debate on the motion Knack said the nine immigration-related referendum questions on the ballot were triggering racist and xenophobic behaviour.

“I feel they are racist questions,” said Knack during the meeting. “I feel those questions are designed to divide and I am strongly opposed to them.”

A motion to establish an official position on the other nine questions will be discussed when council resumes in August. Council delayed taking a stance on the non-separation-related questions to allow proper time for debate.

Speaking to Postmedia, Knack said the impacts of the separation question have already spooked investors, many of whom are asking him if they should bother going forward with business plans or hiring new personnel.

But he’s also heard from a number of minority support groups that have reported heightened amounts of “disrespect” since the referendum questions on immigration were announced.

“The way I have seen some of the reaction to the other nine questions is very much in a way that’s designed to ‘other’ our neighbours,” he said. “Speaking for myself, this is a really important time. It’s important for me to speak up on an issue that has the potential to create, in my view, a lot of harm for Edmontonians. I want to make sure people are engaged in this process, are thinking about this and aware of it.

“I will be voting against those nine (immigration-related) referendum questions. I will be voting to stay in Canada.”

Under Elections Alberta rules, councillors can voice their own opinions on public affairs but the city cannot spend more than $1,000 to advocate for a position. With the motion passed, councillors are now speaking on a united front in support of federalism.

A spokesperson for the office of the premier said the nine immigration referendum questions were a response to feedback received during last year’s Alberta Next town halls, which were largely held outside of Edmonton and Calgary.

“Any accusation that the referendum questions on sustainable immigration constitute racism is false and inflammatory,” said communications officer Ryan Fournier. “These questions simply address the current unsustainable immigration levels in Canada that are putting real pressures on critical public services. These questions also reflect the feedback we heard from Albertans during the Alberta Next town halls.”

From 2022 to 2024 the province encouraged immigration through its “Alberta is calling” campaign. In 2024, Premier Danielle Smith publicly asked the federal government to lift immigration caps, but has since changed her position.

Immigration referendum questions racist, says Edmonton mayor