Western Standard - Sean Fraser sidesteps question on immigration and Alberta independence

00:00:00.000 question alberta sir if you don't mind quickly on the ballot questions and the nine non-remain

00:00:05.360 questions the strongest mandate for reform came on the immigration file you used to be on that file

00:00:10.480 do you believe your work as immigration minister fueled the alberta independence movement at all

00:00:15.520 look i'll leave comments on the remaining questions to my counterpart responsible for

00:00:19.920 that particular portfolio when i had the opportunity to serve in that particular

00:00:24.480 capacity we were receiving requests from the provincial government in alberta at the time

00:00:28.560 and from the business community in Alberta to ensure that the skilled workers that they need

00:00:32.960 would be able to find opportunities in Alberta. I understand that remains the case in some of the

00:00:38.000 engagements between the provinces, but as the referendum questions are still being counted,

00:00:42.080 I think it would be premature to project on the final results on a number of different questions.

00:00:47.120 My specific concerns, obviously, are engaged on the portfolio for which I do have responsibility

00:00:52.080 today. Obviously, there's been one of the questions about the appointment of judges,

00:00:56.320 and it's important to me that we collaborate across party lines, across levels of government

00:01:01.180 to ensure the perspective of the provinces has fed into that particular process.

00:01:05.380 But that's true with or without a referendum, and regardless of the results of the referendum,

00:01:10.220 we want to collaborate, we want to build in the perspective of the provinces to those processes.

00:01:14.500 I would note the public statements of Premier Smith very recently about the quality of judicial appointments we have made

00:01:19.020 demonstrate that the process that we put in place and are willing to work on

00:01:22.080 is in fact working today and having positive results.

00:01:24.620 Thank you so much.

Western Standard - October 22, 2026