MLA voting record or citizen initiatives

In the midst of media attention on the newly enlarged severance packages for MLAs (three months' salary for every year in office), Alberta taxpayers should not lose sight of a much more important issue on the horizon. This fall, our MLAs will vote on the Citizens' Initiative Act, which would give voters the right to propose legislation on the issue of their choice, and have it voted on in a province-wide referendum. The referendum would be held on the same day as a provincial election, or province-wide municipal elections. As debate on this new Act heats up, expect to hear the following objections:

"Having citizens' initiative in place will cause politicians to avoid responsibility"
To the contrary, in Switzerland and many U.S. states, citizens' initiative is used to tackle the tough issues that politicians avoid to protect their popularity. Voters need not concern themselves with staying in office; their only concern is having to live with the referendum's result. In any event, if the Citizens' Initiative Act becomes law, MLAs will continue dealing with issues and voting on Bills, as always.

"Referendums are divisive"
Some issues are divisive; referendums are merely a way of deciding them. When MLAs decide on a divisive issue, it does not make that issue any less divisive. The advantage of referendums is that they involve all voters, not just the politicians. Therefore, the losing side of a referendum is better able to accept the result, knowing that its viewpoint has been heard and considered.

"We elect representatives because today's issues are too complex for ordinary people"
Politicians often vote along party lines without fully understanding an issue. Getting elected, in and of itself, does not raise a person's IQ to a higher level. Further, the Citizens' Initiative Act does not allow Albertans to make day-to-day decisions on running the province; it merely allows for the holding of a referendum on a major issue of concern.

"The citizens' initiative process would be abused to promote trivial matters. Voters would be confused by a proliferation of initiatives."
The Citizens' Initiative Act provides that no more than five (5) proposals can be placed on the ballot. However, the threshold of obtaining more than 100,000 signatures for an initiative is so high that it would be hard to place even one proposal on the ballot, let alone five.

"Referendums trample on minority rights"
The Citizens' Initiative Act expressly prohibits proposals, which run counter to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Even if Albertans vote for a proposal and it is then introduced as a Bill in the Legislature, MLAs still have the final say on amending or rejecting that Bill. Further, there is no guarantee that elected representatives do a better job - or a worse job - than the public at large in safeguarding minority rights. In a 1916 referendum in B.C., men voted more than two-to-one in favour of giving women the right to vote.

If you want to see taxpayers empowered and our democracy enhanced, call your MLA. Ask him or her to vote in favour of the Citizens' Initiative Act this fall.