Part 2

MLA voting record or citizen initiatives

Canada and Alberta have a rich heritage of giving voters a direct say on issues, through more than 60 provincial and federal referendums since 1878. A private member's Bill, The Citizens' Initiative Act now before the Legislature, would give Albertans the right to propose legislation on an issue of their choice, and have it voted on in a province-wide referendum. Citizens' initiative has proven to be a friend of taxpayers in Switzerland and in many U.S. states. But as Alberta's MLAs get closer to voting on this Bill, expect to hear these objections:

"Referendums are a poor substitute for representative democracy." Referendums are not a substitute for representative democracy. Referendums enhance representative democracy by enabling voters to have a real and direct say on key issues of concern. The Citizens' Initiative Act will merely make it possible - though not easy - for Albertans to initiate a referendum on an important issue. That is a far cry from holding a referendum on every issue. Signature thresholds in the Citizens' Initiative Act are very high, making it impossible to push trivial matters forward.

"Referendums stop government from doing its job." If the Citizens' Initiative Act becomes law, MLAs will continue voting on Bills as always, and cabinet ministers will continue to run the departments of health, education, infrastructure, social services, and the like. Albertans would not be responsible for the day-to-day running of a province, or putting together the province's annual budget.

"Referendums oversimplify issues." Elections - not referendums - oversimplify issues by limiting the voter to placing one "x" beside one candidate, in the face of a myriad of issues, parties, personalities, and policies. By voting for that one candidate, the voter cannot express any disagreement with particular policies of that candidate or her/his party. In contrast, referendums enable real and meaningful debate on specific issues.

"Referendums will erode the social fabric." Referendums give more control to taxpayers, and put a small dent in the politicians' absolute monopoly on power. Giving taxpayers a greater and more direct say in how their province is run strengthens the social fabric. Referendums also strengthen the social fabric by getting citizens to communicate with each other, rather than just lobbying the politicians and listening to media.

"Referendums can be bought by special interest groups." In Canada's 1992 referendum on the Charlottetown Accord, the "yes" side spent more than thirteen times as much as the "no" side, and lost. A ridiculous proposal (e.g. a law requiring all cars to be painted yellow) will fail no matter how much money is spent promoting it. Organized pressure groups already influence politicians at all three levels of government - usually behind closed doors. Referendums force lobby groups out into the open to explain and justify their agendas to all citizens.

"Voters will be confused by emotional oratory." How can voters be smart when electing their MLAs, and at the same time be unwise when voting on a specific issue in a referendum If citizens are able to vote for a candidate without being manipulated by emotional oratory, why would they be confused in a referendum Taxpayers are quite capable of deciding major issues of principle, whereas MLAs sometimes suffer from "Dome Disease."

Most of these objections are based on a profound mistrust of democracy. Hopefully, when MLAs vote on the Citizen's Initiative Act they will have faith in the intelligence of those who elected them and support this legislation.