Advocacy group urges change to recall and citizen initiated referendum legislation

News release from Project Confederation

Project Confederation has been actively engaged in advocating for fair and inclusive democratic mechanisms for citizen participation in policy decisions.

In 2020, I presented arguments in favour of citizen initiated referenda and recall legislation to the Select Special Democratic Accountability Committee, emphasizing the significance of citizen-initiated referenda as a crucial aspect of democratic governance.

Bill 51, the Citizen Initiative Act, and Bill 52, the Recall Act, were passed into law in 2021.

While these bills were initially viewed as positive steps towards enhancing democracy in Alberta, it has become evident that they contain major flaws that hinder the effectiveness of recall and citizen initiative efforts.

To put it simply, the requirements are unattainable.

For instance, the requirement of collecting signatures from 40% of eligible voters for recall petitions for public officials, within a short 60-day period, posed an insurmountable challenge for the citizen who initiated a recall petition against Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek.

What’s the point of a recall process if the petitioner has to collect nearly three times the number of votes garnered by the official they seek to recall?

The provincial government is currently considering how to fix recall.

But, the rules for citizen initiated referenda are equally unattainable, so it’s important we act now to make sure the provincial government understands that referenda rules must get fixed at the same time.

Our friends at the Alberta Institute recently launched a petition calling on the Alberta government to fix both recall and citizen initiated referendums.

They propose the following key recommendations for reforming recall and citizen-initiated referenda legislation in Alberta:

Recall:

Recall efforts permitted any time (they would take a minimum of 6 months anyway, while in the last 6 months there would just be no by-election)
20% of the number who actually voted last time must sign a petition for a Recall to be successful when there are more than 50,000 eligible voters
30% of the number who actually voted last time must sign a petition for a Recall to be successful when there are fewer than 50,000 eligible voters
Signatures must be collected within a 180-day period
A successful petition should remove municipal and provincial representatives automatically, triggering a by-election which the representative could run in, if they wish

Referenda:

10% of the number who actually voted last time must sign a petition for Legislative or Policy Referenda
20% of the number who actually voted last time must sign a petition for Constitutional Referenda
Signatures must be collected within a 180-day period

These recommendations aim to make the recall and referenda processes more accessible and reflective of democratic principles, ensuring that citizens have a meaningful voice in shaping policy decisions.

The democratic process should be inclusive and responsive to the evolving needs and aspirations of the populace, and citizens must have the opportunity to address fundamental issues through democratic tools.

If you agree, and want to see the referendum and recall rules fixed, please sign the Alberta Institute’s petition:

Regards,

Josh Andrus
Executive Director
Project Confederation

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Published on January 21, 2025

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Prior to Trumps inauguration event and announcement was made that Trump would not be imposing the 25% tariffs…

Which means, Canada seriously dodged a bullet here.

And while the Liberals will most likely frame this as, their success in showing, Bad Orange Man, that they’re tough and ready to burn down what is left of our economy, throwing Alberta under the bus, first…through a nuclear option…

Premier Smith rode this challenge out like the true champion we knew that she would be.

It’s hard to say if this was a legality matter in the grander scheme…or if the 25% tariffs would have truly been as big of an impact on the US…

One thing is clear, however…

Smith was ready to go to the tables with the Trump administration and opt for diplomacy over threats…which should be what we expect from our leaders.

And should these 25% tariffs have gone through…I’m more than sure a Plan B would have been brought out in civil conversations, over screeching rhetoric.

“She’s treasonous”, they screeched.

“She’s supporting her friends in Oil and Gas”, they relent.

“She should put Canada first”, they echo…

And let’s just address these…

Is Walmart beholden to Campbells soup? Fruit of the Loom? Kraft?

Or does Walmart sell products that helps keep their doors open?

Walmart is not beholden to any product…just like Premier Smith isn’t. We have 26% of our GDP – the largest portion – owed to Alberta O&G, something that we have a limited trade partner with, due to the Liberal – Anti-Alberta/Anti-O&G/Anti-Pipeline attitude that wants to spend us further in debt with unreliable and expensive “Renewables”.

What does Alberta get from renewables?

A higher cost for energy, in an affordability crisis, created by the same people who continue to push them…sounds like a terrible deal, for Albertans, and something a true leader would Not Favor.

When Walmart sits down to hash out a deal with Heinz, are they committing treason because they haven’t shown their allegiance to their own, ‘Great Value’ brand Ketchup?

No…other provinces have their own industries and resources, which they are free to continue developing independent of the federal government, as is suitable and supportive of their own economies…Alberta isn’t competing with them, nor Canada as a whole.

Alberta through industry and resource, actually supports Canada through a grand imbalance on “Equalization Payments”…

As do we through paying 50% more into the Canada Pension Plan, than we actually get out of the Canada Pension Plan…to the tune of a $334 Billion Dollars.

And as for this “Team Canada”, horseshit…

The title Premier of Alberta, should hold some clues as to who Premier Smith should be advocating for…as she is the Premier of Alberta and Not the Prime Minister, nor leader in the Liberal Party that has created this fiasco, to begin with.

Rail, as they may…other provinces can’t cast a vote in her support, either way…

None of the other provinces, through Members of Parliament, nor through Premiers, came to support Alberta and our economy through a number of Federal Bills that railed on our provincial resources…

Worse yet…these hypocrites cash cheques from our province, while telling us how to diversify our economy…to which I’d state one thing unequivocally…

If we wanted to be a Have Not Province…like you are…we’ll come and ask you for your advice.

Until then…

I’ll hold my Alberta Flag Higher than my Canadian…

And be proud today, of having the only Premier in the country of Canada, worthy of any praise today!