Any day now, Alberta's Conservative MLAs will vote on the Citizens' Initiative Act in caucus, before the Legislature reconvenes in November. This historic private member's Bill would give Alberta taxpayers the right to initiate and vote in a referendum on a provincial issue of their choice.

Citizens in Switzerland, British Columbia, and many U.S. states - as well as Alberta voters at the municipal level - already enjoy the right to by-pass politicians and force a referendum on an issue of concern. Since the 1800s, the Swiss have voted on their constitution, immigration policy, international treaties, tax rates, and other issues.

Increased accountability and more voter choice are the greatest benefits of citizens' initiative. When citizens lack the right to initiate a referendum on an issue of concern, politicians have a blank cheque to do whatever they want, up to five years at a time. Albertans cannot use their ballots to implement - or to reject - any specific policy for which the provincial government is responsible - health, education, social services, justice, tax levels, spending levels, etc. In theory, voters can have their specific concerns addressed during an election. But on voting day only one question looms large: which leader/party should be Premier/Government

Opponents of participatory democracy warn of anarchy and chaos. But the Citizens' Initiative Act merely enables Albertans to collect 100,000 signatures to put a provincial issue to a referendum. The referendum is held in conjunction with a provincial election or province-wide municipal elections. If Albertans support an initiative it is introduced in the Legislature as a bill, to be accepted, rejected or amended by MLAs. This legislation would enhance representative democracy, not replace it.

An Environics poll of over 1,000 Albertans commissioned by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation in September revealed that 79% of Albertans want direct democracy legislation, with only 15% opposed and 6% undecided. Yet, Alberta's Conservative MLAs rejected citizen-initiated referendums in 1994, 1996, and 1998. Click here for the voting record for all 83 MLAs

Many taxpayers would be amazed to learn that their friendly, dedicated and usually-sensible MLA is terrified of the prospect of Albertans having a direct say on a specific issue. These same MLAs would tell you, during an election, that voters are brilliant and intelligent, not to mention sensible and wise. But they think that between elections voters cease to be intelligent adults - certainly not capable of exercising good judgment in a referendum.

On three occasions MLAs have disregarded what 79% of Albertans want. They may do so again, if Albertans don't phone their MLAs and tell them to vote for the Citizens' Initiative Act inside their party caucus. Ultimately, this is the only vote that matters.

It's so easy to complain about politics to your family and colleagues at work. For some strange reason, people find it hard to pick up the phone and call their own MLA. But unlike your friends and neighbours, your MLA has an obligation to listen to you - and even gets paid for it.

More accountability and choice for voters is worth a phone call.