Former premiers Rachel Notley, Alison Redford and Ed Stelmach want Albertans to vote No on the five immigration questions on Monday's ballot. In a joint Calgary Herald column, they write that "Alberta's continued prosperity depends on immigration."

They call the five "immigrant-targeting questions" on the ballot "a threat to our continued prosperity" and, if passed, "a clear and present threat."

Fair enough on one point. The three cite a Calgary Chamber analysis that most Alberta businesses struggle with labour shortages and need migrant labour to fill vacancies. Employers do say that, and nobody is obliged to pretend otherwise.

But look at what Question 1 actually asks: whether Albertans support "the Government of Alberta taking increased control over immigration for the purposes of decreasing immigration to more sustainable levels, prioritizing economic migration and giving Albertans first priority on new employment opportunities."

Economic migration, prioritized. The very thing the former premiers say employers need.

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Questions 3 and 4 each begin by stating that citizens and permanent residents keep qualifying for services "as they do now." Those two are about people with non-permanent status.

Now try the same argument on Quebec.

Under the 1991 Canada-Quebec Accord, "Québec has sole responsibility for the selection of immigrants destined to that province." Ottawa keeps admission, levels and the family and refugee classes, and owes Quebec "reasonable compensation" for the reception and integration services Quebec provides.

Three former premiers didn't write a joint column warning that Quebec's prosperity was under threat. They wrote it about Alberta.

So a province that selects its own immigrants, with federal money attached, is normal. An Alberta government asking voters whether it should have more control is "a clear and present threat."

Premier Danielle Smith's government put the questions on the ballot. Albertans answer them on Monday.

Quebec has had its say for 35 years. Alberta is told that asking for one is the danger.