Bill clarifies MLAS, cabinet can speak on fall referendum
A bill introduced in the legislature Monday will lay the groundwork for elected MLAS to campaign on Alberta's fall referendum questions.
Under current legislation, government departments and corporations are banned from purchasing advertising related to referendums starting 60 days before the vote.
With referendum questions likely to be added to this year's municipal elections on Oct. 18, the ban would take effect in August.
Premier Jason Kenney has said Alberta will go ahead with a referendum on equalization payments in 2021, following a recommendation from the province's Fair Deal Panel.
Other questions could also appear on municipal ballots this year.
If passed, Bill 68, the Election Statutes Amendment Act, would make it clear that all MLAS, including cabinet ministers, can express their views in the run-up to a referendum.
There weren't rules that explicitly prevented MLAS from doing so in the past, but the bill aims to clarify the situation.
Justice Minister Kaycee Madu said Monday that there's potential for confusion with the current law, and the aim is to make sure ministers know they have the right to speak their minds, just like any other MLA.
“In this particular instance, it is not appropriate for cabinet ministers who are elected by their constituents to not have the same privilege and opportunity that every other MLA in this province has to weigh in on referendum topics.”
Madu added that it's important for elected officials to be able to participate in “robust” public debate.
“This will help Albertans in deciding which path we should take to best meet their current and future needs,” he said.
The Referendum Act already allows referendums to be held on government-led initiatives or matters of public interest before they are implemented — including the recommendations of the Fair Deal Panel.
Many municipal officials have consistently opposed adding provincial referendum questions to local election ballots.
Last week, Alberta Urban Municipalities Association President Barry Morishita said he expected some of the questions to come with “big provincial campaigns,” with the potential to overshadow local issues.
Bill 68 would also update the Education Act to allow cabinet to expand eligibility for trustees in francophone regional school authorities through an order in council.
It would give the government the ability to open the door for candidates who do not have children enrolled in francophone school boards to run in local elections in the fall.