Alberta Municipalities opposes plan to politicize local elections
The organization representing more than 260 Alberta municipalities is renewing its call for the province to back down from its coming legislation that will permit party affiliations to be listed on local election ballots.
Alberta Municipalities president, and mayor of Wetaskiwin, Tyler Gandam told reporters Tuesday that introducing parties was widely unpopular as well as “unnecessary, and without putting too fine a point on it, a bad idea.”
“We're representing the people and not the party that we're running alongside with. I know that many municipalities or many municipal councillors are part of different political affiliations. But I don't see the benefit to how that creates a better community.”
The province has indicated legislation overhauling the Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA) and Municipal Government Act that would include permitting parties on municipal ballots is imminent, though the timing remains unclear.
Neither Premier Danielle Smith or Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver have yet to specify where the demand for parties is coming from, instead portraying the change as formalizing what they claim already exists in practice as well as providing more transparency and accountability.
Gandam said Tuesday he had sent four recommendations on improving local governance to the premier's office, including limiting donation amounts to $2,500 per candidate, strengthened financial disclosure rules for candidates and third parties, confirmation from candidates they understand the role of councillors, and educational resources to be made available to prospective candidates.
He added that while the province's consultation could “use some improvement,” he also described McIver as “the most open minister” in the government.
Only a candidate's name is currently permitted on ballots as per the LAEA, but there is also nothing currently stopping individuals from organizing slates or parties, though those affiliations would not be marked on ballots under the current rules.
The concept in the new legislation appears to be widely unpopular as seen in opposition from ABMunis as well as the government's own engagement survey.
The results of that poll were obtained by Postmedia through a freedom of information request and showed 70 per cent of respondents to the multiple choice section of the survey were opposed to the idea, and more than 80 per cent of those who responded to the open-answer section of the survey were also against the plan.
The most common objections included the likelihood of heightened politicization and “American-style politics” at the local level as well as councillors being too beholden to parties and not to citizens.
NDP Opposition municipal affairs critic Kyle Kasawski said the pursuit of parties at the local level despite widespread opposition demonstrated how the government was focused on the wrong priorities.
“Instead of meddling in systems that are working well and threatening to step in where they aren't wanted, the UCP should pay their bills so that our cities and towns can make ends meet,” referencing the province's cuts to its grants in place of taxes program.
“When the UCP insists on moving ahead on things that no one wants like the CPP, a provincial police force and now municipal political parties, Albertans are rightfully wondering about the UCP's hidden agenda they never campaigned on.”
Multiple municipal elected officials have told Postmedia that activist group Take Back Alberta was behind the push for parties, although McIver has denied he has consulted with the organization.
Alberta is next scheduled to hold municipal elections in October 2025.