Alberta Premier proposes $1,900 health care premium for temporary residents

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has proposed a health care premium of up to $1,900 per person for certain temporary residents. The proposal is part of a broader immigration reform package that will be presented to voters in a referendum on October 19.

Smith stated that Alberta’s approximately 246,000 temporary residents cost the province $1 billion annually in health care and education services while generating only $150 million in provincial revenue. She suggested that employers could potentially shoulder the cost of these premiums, arguing that if a $1,900 fee would “make or break” a business, the company is likely hiring for a low-skilled position that should instead be filled by local youth.

The Premier cited comparable models in the United Kingdom, where temporary workers pay annual premiums to access health care. Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi criticized the proposal, calling the Premier “out of touch” and arguing that the fee ignores the taxes already paid by temporary workers. Details regarding whether the premium would apply to current residents or only new arrivals remain undecided.