CTF Submission: Clearing the Cloud of Doubt

EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is calling on the Alberta government to open up the municipal electoral process by implementing pre-election disclosure of campaign donations, mandatory voter identification at the polls, and the right for taxpayers to recall municipal politicians.

In its presentation to the Alberta government's Local Authorities Election Act Review committee, entitled "Clearing the Cloud of Doubt: Improving transparency and voter confidence in Alberta's municipal elections," the CTF forwards 10 recommendations to the committee.

"Voter confidence in the municipal electoral process is continually eroding, the only way to reverse this trend is by empowering voters with transparent information and greater democratic rights," said CTF-Alberta director and report author Scott Hennig.

Currently only five municipalities in Alberta require some form of campaign contribution disclosure, but voters only get to see these disclosures after they have cast their ballot. "Pre-election disclosure of campaign donations provide voters with the knowledge of who potentially has influence over each candidate, before they vote," continued Hennig.

Citizen recall legislation empowers voters to hold their elected officials accountable between elections. "If a municipal politician is underperforming or not keeping their word, voters should have the ability to force a recall vote. If Albertans would have had the power of recall in 2003, Lethbridge voters wouldn't have had to wait 16 months for embattled Alderman Dar Heatherington to resign," stated Hennig.

Mandatory voter identification was also recommended in the submission. Currently in Alberta, those municipalities who do not prepare voters lists (most) only have to request the potential elector sign a statement swearing they are indeed eligible to vote. "This 'honour system' of voting is reckless and taints electoral outcomes," concluded Hennig.

Copies of the CTF's submission to the Local Authorities Election Act Review committee can be downloaded in pdf by clicking here.