We will not let politicians divide us. We will stand together for rights, services and dignity for all.
On October 19, Albertans were asked to vote in a referendum designed to gain support for attacking migrants and immigrants.
The incredibly confusing questions aimed to spread disinformation to scapegoat migrants and manufacture support to deny migrants access to public services, restrict social supports, charge additional fees for health care and education, and impose new requirements that would deny people their right to vote.
This referendum is part of a campaign to blame migrants for problems they did not create. Hundreds of thousands of Albertans rejected the anti-immigrant referendum questions. More than half a million voted against restricting access to public services.
But voting against these questions was not enough. We must build a mass movement to defend the rights of migrants across Alberta and Canada.
Migrants are our neighbours, coworkers, friends and family. They grow our food, care for our loved ones, build our homes and contribute to our communities.
The problems facing Albertans, from housing costs to health care shortages, are not caused by migrants. They are the result of government choices.
When politicians turn us against each other, we all lose.
We must stand together against racism and division, and fight for a society where everyone has the rights, services and protections they need, regardless of where they were born or their immigration status.
I pledge to defend my migrant neighbours.
I commit to:
- Stand against racism and scapegoating. I will speak up when migrants are blamed for problems they did not create.
- Defend access to essential services. I believe everyone deserves access to health care, education and essential services, regardless of their immigration status. I will defend migrants’ rights to these services in my community and across the country.
- Protect migrant rights. I will stand with migrants fighting for fair treatment, equal rights, workplace protections and permanent resident status.
- Take action together. I will join with my neighbours to oppose policies that divide us and build communities where everyone belongs.
I pledge to stand with my migrant neighbours. We are stronger together.