Alberta is changing the rules to make referendums easier. Here's how
CBC
The Alberta government's proposed changes to citizen initiatives and recalls have focused a great deal of attention on these processes — and in particular, whether it makes a referendum on seceding from Canada more likely.
Here's what you need to know.
A citizen initiative is a way for Albertans to put forward a legislative or policy proposal to be considered by the legislature, or a proposal to conduct a referendum on constitutional matters.
The mechanism for this has been around in Alberta since the UCP under Jason Kenney passed the Citizen Initiative Act in 2021.
A related process is a recall, which is a way to remove an elected official — such as MLAs, municipal leaders or school board members — from office between elections. This also dates back to 2021, with the introduction of the Recall Act.
Citizen initiatives can be started by any resident of Alberta who is legally allowed to vote, with some exceptions such as sitting MLAs or provincial election officials.
A proponent first applies to the chief electoral officer to start a petition. The application requires a statement on an issue — that would include an outline of proposed legislation, or in the case of a constitutional petition, a proposed question to be put to a referendum.
If the requirements are met, the petition is issued, and the proponent then collects signatures supporting their initiative. Once the required threshold of support is reached, the petition is submitted to the chief electoral officer and verified.
A non-constitutional petition requires the support of 10 per cent of all registered voters in Alberta. If successful, a proposal is required to be introduced in the legislature and referred to a committee, which can recommend either that the proposal be turned into legislation or policy, or that a provincial referendum be held on it.
A constitutional petition needs the support of 20 per cent of all voters, and at least 20 per cent in two-thirds of all provincial ridings. If it clears that bar, the question is put to a provincial referendum.
A recall petition requires the support of 40 per cent of eligible voters in the riding, municipality or ward. What happens next is different depending on the type of official being recalled.
In the case of an MLA, a successful petition results in a referendum within that riding on whether to recall the MLA and hold a by-election. That step is skipped for local officials. A petition meeting the required threshold of support results in the official being removed.
Once passed, Bill 54, also known as the Election Statutes Amendment Act, will significantly lower the threshold of support needed for initiatives or MLA recalls.
All initiatives, including constitutional ones, will require 10 per cent of the voters who voted in the last general election.
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