This fall, MLAs will have an opportunity to build on Alberta's heritage of direct democracy by voting in favour of the Citizens' Initiative Act. This Act would increase accountability and improve democracy by giving Albertans the right to propose legislation on the issue of their choice, and have it voted on in a province-wide referendum. The referendum would take place at the same time as the provincial election, or province-wide municipal elections.

Alberta falls within a rich Canadian tradition of holding referendums on issues: military conscription, public health insurance, direct democracy legislation, prohibition, constitutional change, and giving women the right to vote. In addition to hundreds of municipal referendums held in towns and cities across Canada, there have been over 60 referendums at the federal and provincial levels since 1878.

From 1913 to 1958, Alberta had a Direct Legislation Act, by which 20% of the voters could petition the Legislature to pass a proposed law. The Legislature had to enact the proposed law, or submit it to voters in a binding referendum.

In 1948, Albertans voted 50.03% in favour of "the generation and distribution of electricity being continued by the Power Companies as at present," and 49.97% in favour of "the generation and distribution of electricity being made a publicly owned utility administered by the Alberta Government Power Commission." Ernest Manning's Social Credit party favoured private ownership, but promised to honour the results of the referendum, which was held the same day as the provincial election. Albertans chose to re-elect Social Credit, and also had the option of voting for or against nationalizing electricity.

Albertans voted 51% against switching to daylight savings time in 1967, and 61% in favour in 1971. These two referendums were also held in conjunction with provincial elections, allowing Albertans to vote for the candidates and parties of their choice, and also have a direct say on a matter of concern.

In 1992 Albertans, along with other Canadians, voted on the constitutional changes proposed in the Charlottetown Accord.

Some politicians oppose citizens having the right to initiate and vote in referendums. They say "we have a referendum every four years: it's called an election." It's true that an election is a "referendum" on whether the Government Party should stay in power or be replaced by the Opposition Party. But with dozens of different issues crying out for attention during the election, voters have no opportunity to express an opinion on a specific issue. Regardless of whether you vote for a Government or Opposition candidate, you do not have the final say on any issue. When politicians ignore voter concerns on an issue, that particular issue will be drowned out in the election, because the election will be focussed on which Party will govern the province in the next four years.

The beauty of citizens' initiative is that taxpayers get the right to have a direct say on specific issues of their choice - something which elections do not give voters.

Legislation similar to the Citizens' Initiative Act was defeated in 1996 by the votes of just five MLAs. Whether or not it becomes law this fall will depend on Albertans telling their MLAs to vote in favour of this Act.