Alberta legislation would change citizen referendum rules, restrict political party names
CBC
The provincial government is proposing sweeping changes to citizen-led referendum questions that could put a stop to an active court case about whether it’s constitutional to ask Albertans if they agree with separating from Canada.
Bill 14, introduced Thursday by Justice Minister Mickey Amery, transfers powers from the chief electoral officer to the minister when deciding whether citizen petition initiatives should proceed.
It also includes an amendment to discontinue any court proceeding brought by the chief electoral officer.
The legislation comes just weeks after Court of King’s Bench Justice Colin Feasby heard arguments about a question that chief electoral officer Gordon McClure referred to the courts, seeking an opinion on its constitutionality. The judge’s decision is supposed to be issued in the coming weeks.
Amery said the changes are about creating a “permissive environment” for Albertans trying to bring referendum questions.
He said the court case currently underway “may or may not continue.”
“The reality is that the court’s entitled to make a decision on any question put to it, independent of what we’re doing here.”
If Bill 14 is passed, only the minister would be able to refer a citizen referendum question to the courts. That power currently rests with the chief electoral officer. The minister would also be allowed to recommend changes to a constitutional referendum question before it's put to voters.
Additionally, the legislation proposes amendments to restrict the names political parties are allowed to use, limit some of the powers of the province's legal regulator, and implement government oversight over a non-profit that distributes grants for legal education and justice work.
Alberta NDP deputy leader Rakhi Pancholi said Thursday that the Opposition will "fiercely object" to the legislation.
“There are so many pieces in here that are problematic and should be of deep concern to all Albertans," she said.
"It sounds like the UCP Minister of Justice, Mickey Amery, is quickly becoming the most powerful person in Alberta. Because he’s given himself an incredible amount of authority."
Lawyer Jeffrey Rath is representing Alberta Prosperity Project executive Mitch Sylvestre, who's behind the potential referendum question that would ask Albertans whether they agree the province "shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province in Canada."
Rath said in an interview that he believes the province is interfering in the current court case.
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