EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today released MLA voting records, compiled from Alberta Hansard, showing which MLAs have voted for and against direct democracy legislation in 1994, 1996 and 1998. When the Legislature reconvenes this November, MLAs will vote on the Citizens' Initiative Act, sponsored by MLA Tony Abbott (Drayton Valley-Calmar). This Act would give Albertans the right to propose provincial legislation on a topic of their choice, and have it voted on in a province-wide referendum. Voters in Switzerland, British Columbia and many U.S. states have the right to initiate referendums.

The release of MLA voting records comes in the wake of a province-wide poll showing 79% of Albertans support legislation giving them the right to initiate and vote in referendums, with only 15% opposed and 6% undecided. Commissioned by the CTF and conducted by Environics in September, this was the first poll in Alberta's history to ask more than 1,000 people in every part of the province whether they support or oppose legislation to enable citizen-initiated referendums.

"With seventy-nine percent of Albertans supporting citizen-initiated referendums, some people may be very surprised to learn that their MLA has voted against this kind of legislation in the past," stated CTF-Alberta director John Carpay. "The message to MLAs from September's province-wide poll is clear: 'your constituents want this legislation'."

The MLA voting records will be posted on the CTF web site at www.taxpayer.com, and distributed in conjunction with the CTF's Petition campaign in support of the Citizens' Initiative Act. Petitions will be delivered to Premier Ralph Klein's office when the Legislature reconvenes in November.

Only 47 of Alberta's 83 MLAs have voted on this kind of legislation in the past, with 36 MLAs being newly elected or not present for previous votes.