ALBERTA’S HOSPITALS ARE THE EMERGENCY. AN EXPENSIVE NON-BINDING POLL IS THE DISTRACTION. By Dr. Raj Sherman, ER physician, former MLA. Personal views. Patients suffer in overcrowded ERs. Ambulances can’t unload. Albertans wait too long for care. That’s the crisis. Meanwhile, Premier @ABDanielleSmith is spending tens of millions of dollars on ten non-binding referendum questions, several requiring constitutional changes Alberta cannot make alone. Why not test these ideas in a low-cost poll, then seek a mandate in a general election where Albertans can judge the government's record? After weighing both sides, I’m voting NO on Questions 1-9 and choosing OPTION 1: REMAIN IN CANADA on Question 10. Here’s why: 1. Immigration control - NO Pro: Manage growth, housing, jobs and services. Con: Risk losing needed workers. My view: Restrictions don’t build hospitals or homes. Planning and infrastructure do. 2. Restrict public services by immigration status - NO Pro: Control costs and clarify eligibility. Con: Exclude some taxpaying newcomers from essential services. My view: Public health and fairness should guide access. 3. Twelve-month wait for social supports - NO Pro: Control costs and encourage self-sufficiency. Con: Increase hardship for vulnerable temporary residents and children. My view: Early support can prevent greater costs later. 4. Healthcare and education premiums for temporary residents - NO Pro: Recover provincial costs. Con: Create financial barriers and delay care and education. My view: Citizens and permanent residents are exempt. Vulnerable temporary residents may struggle to pay. 5. Additional proof of citizenship to vote - NO Pro: Strengthen election integrity. Con: Create barriers for eligible voters. My view: Show that existing safeguards are inadequate before adding new requirements. 6. Provincial appointment of judges - NO Pro: Greater provincial influence. Con: Risk political interference. My view: Judicial independence comes first. 7. Abolish the Senate - NO Pro: Eliminate an unelected chamber. Con: Lose regional representation and legislative scrutiny. My view: Reform before abolition. 8. Opt out of federal programs, retain funding - NO Pro: Greater provincial flexibility. Con: Weaken national standards and accountability. My view: Flexibility must protect universality and accessibility. 9. Provincial laws take priority over conflicting federal laws - NO Pro: Strengthen provincial autonomy. Con: Create constitutional uncertainty. My view: Federalism requires cooperation and the rule of law. 10. Alberta’s future - OPTION 1: REMAIN IN CANADA Separation: Greater control and potential leverage. Remain: Avoid economic uncertainty and constitutional disruption. My view: Resolve Alberta’s legitimate grievances within Confederation. WHY THIS MATTERS: Canada was built by immigrants, their descendants and Indigenous peoples. My parents arrived in 1972 with four young boys. Despite his master’s degree, Dad worked in a lumber mill. Mom picked strawberries, cleaned hotels and sewed clothes. Through hard work and sacrifice, they gave us opportunities. Today, their children and grandchildren contribute in many professions across Alberta and Canada. My family’s story is the story of countless other families in this province and country. Poverty on arrival doesn’t determine a family’s future contributions. Immigration must be sustainable. So must opportunity. IN SUMMARY: This is a referendum to have a referendum. It’s non-binding and, in my view, a waste of taxpayer money. Why not seek a mandate in a general election, where Albertans can also judge the government’s record on healthcare and other priorities? Patients are still waiting. The emergency is real. Government priorities should reflect that. We must respect every Albertan’s right to decide differently. I am an immigrant. I am Albertan. I am Canadian. I believe in a strong Alberta and a strong Canada. Government should be judged by the problems it solves, not the political questions it asks. Please vote on October 19 and Please Re-Tweet. Raj Sherman, M.D. @PfParks @JMeddings @NightShiftMD @LukaszukAB @TheBreakdownAB @ryanjespersen @cspotweet #AlbertaReferendum #ForeverCanadian