Support for questions on immigration, social programs and provincial powers trailed the rest of West Yellowhead by more than 30 percentage points

Jasper voters rejected all nine proposals put to Albertans in the province’s recent referendum, with support for each measure falling well below the level recorded across the West Yellowhead Electoral Division.

A tally combining results from three polling stations at École Jasper School and the advance polling station at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 31 shows that fewer than half of Jasper’s votes supported any of the nine questions.

The proposals covered a range of issues, including provincial control over immigration, eligibility for publicly funded services, changes to the justice system and constitutional reforms that would expand provincial powers.

Across the four Jasper voting locations, support ranged from 17.4 per cent for a proposal allowing provinces to opt out of certain federal programs while retaining their funding to 40.6 per cent for requiring proof of Canadian citizenship to vote in provincial elections.

The results contrasted sharply with those across West Yellowhead, where a majority of voters supported all nine proposals. Riding-wide support ranged from 59.4 per cent on the federal-programs question to 74.3 per cent on voter identification.

Immigration and social programs

The first four questions dealt primarily with immigration and access to provincially funded services.

On Question 1, which asked whether Alberta should take greater control over immigration to reduce immigration to more sustainable levels, prioritize economic migration and give Albertans priority for new employment opportunities, 574 ballots at the Jasper locations were in favour and 1,158 were opposed. Support was 33.1 per cent, compared with 70.6 per cent across West Yellowhead.

Question 2 asked whether the province should restrict eligibility for provincially funded programs, including health care, education and social services, to Canadian citizens, permanent residents and people with an Alberta-approved immigration status.

The proposal received 518 YES votes and 1,211 NO votes in Jasper, for 30 per cent support. Across the riding, 68.6 per cent voted in favour.

On Question 3, which proposed requiring people with non-permanent legal immigration status to reside in Alberta for at least 12 months before qualifying for provincially funded social support programs, 32.3 per cent of Jasper ballots supported the measure. Riding-wide support was 67.6 per cent.

Question 4 asked whether the province should charge reasonable fees or premiums to people with non-permanent immigration status for their families’ use of the health-care and education systems.

The measure received 513 YES votes and 1,215 NO votes in Jasper, giving it 29.7 per cent support. In West Yellowhead, 67.3 per cent voted YES.

Citizenship and provincial powers

Question 5, which proposed requiring proof of Canadian citizenship to vote in provincial elections, attracted the strongest support among Jasper voters.

The measure received 699 YES votes and 1,024 NO votes, meaning 40.6 per cent supported it. Across West Yellowhead, 74.3 per cent voted in favour.

The remaining four questions proposed constitutional changes intended to expand provincial authority or reduce federal influence.

Question 6 asked whether Alberta should work with other willing provinces to amend the Constitution so provincial governments, rather than the federal government, would select justices appointed to provincial King’s Bench and appeal courts.

In Jasper, 23.9 per cent supported the proposal, compared with 61.3 per cent across the riding.

Question 7 proposed working with other provinces to abolish the unelected federal Senate. It received 448 YES votes and 1,270 NO votes in Jasper, for 26.1 per cent support. West Yellowhead support was 63.6 per cent.

Question 8 asked whether provinces should be allowed to opt out of federal programs in areas such as health care, education and social services without losing the associated federal funding for their own social programs.

It received the lowest level of support in Jasper: 282 YES votes and 1,337 NO votes, or 17.4 per cent. Across West Yellowhead, 59.4 per cent supported the proposal.

The final question asked whether provincial laws dealing with provincial or shared constitutional jurisdiction should take priority over conflicting federal laws.

Question 9 received 425 YES votes and 1,301 NO votes in Jasper, for 24.6 per cent support. In West Yellowhead, 62.2 per cent voted in favour.

A consistent divide

The results show a consistent difference between voting patterns at Jasper’s four polling locations and those across the wider electoral division.

For all nine questions, Jasper’s YES vote was at least 33 percentage points lower than the riding-wide result. The gap was greatest on Question 8, at 42 percentage points.

The figures represent ballots cast at the three École Jasper School polling stations and the Royal Canadian Legion advance poll. They do not establish how every Jasper resident voted, as the results are based on polling locations rather than voters’ home addresses.

The Question 8 tally also records fewer combined YES and NO votes than the other questions, a discrepancy that warrants confirmation against Elections Alberta’s original results before the figures are considered final.

Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com