Alberta sets groundwork for referendum day after Liberal election victory

The Alberta government has introduced Bill 54, the Election Statutes Amendment Act on Tuesday, aiming to enhance the integrity and accessibility of provincial elections while emphasizing referendums several times in its announcement, signalling pushback against the federal Liberal government led by Prime Minister Mark Carney.

The proposed legislation, tabled by Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party government, seeks to protect democratic processes, ensure fair and transparent elections, and boost public confidence in voting outcomes, according to a government news release.

The Western Standard asked Smith about the timing of the announcement — the day after a federal election — and whether she is considering a (sovereignty) referendum.

“We were going to introduce it (legislation) regardless of what the outcome of the election was,” she said.

To hold an independence referendum in Alberta, currently, the process can be initiated through two primary mechanisms under existing legislation, the Referendum Act and the Citizen Initiative Act. 

A petition must collect signatures from approximately 600,000 eligible voters (about 20% of Alberta’s eligible voters, based on the 2019 election turnout) within a 90-day period. 

If passed, the new law will cut the number needed cut in half to 10%.

Weeks before the federal election, Smith issued a series of demands for the next prime minister, warning that inattention to them could spark an “unprecedented national unity crisis.”

The demands include establishing oil and gas corridors to the north, east, and west; repealing legislation hindering pipeline development; lifting the tanker ban off British Columbia’s coast; scrapping the proposed emissions cap on the oil and gas industry; eliminating clean energy regulations; ending the federal prohibition on single-use plastics; scrapping the net-zero car mandate; allowing provinces to oversee the industrial carbon tax and ending “federal censorship of energy companies.”

Asked if the door is open to Alberta leaving confederation, Smith said, “I believe in Alberta sovereignty within a united Canada. However, there is a citizen initiative referendum process that if citizens want to put a question on a ballot and get enough of their fellow citizens to sign that petition, then those questions will be put forward. Again, I don’t want to prejudge what a question might be, but not by our government.”

Key changes in Bill 54 include banning electronic tabulators and requiring hand-counted ballots to safeguard election integrity, eliminating vouching at voting stations to strengthen voter identification, and mandating unofficial vote counts within 12 hours of polls closing for timely results.

Voters would be required to cast ballots in their constituency of residence or request a special ballot, with expanded access to special ballots for all voters without needing a reason, though requests must be made personally, except for those with disabilities.

The bill amends the Recall Act to lower the signature threshold and extend the timeframe for collecting signatures, making it easier to hold elected officials accountable. The Citizen Initiative Act would set a standardized threshold of 10% of eligible voters from the last general election for petitions to succeed.

“Albertans rightly expect their government to make sure democratic processes are fair and transparent with accurate and timely results,” said Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice and Attorney General. “These proposed amendments would deliver on my mandate to review and make changes to strengthen public trust in the integrity of our elections.”

Additional provisions allow corporate and union contributions to provincial elections with existing transparency measures, improve voting access for First Nations and Métis Settlements during referendums and senate elections, and enhance emergency response provisions for voting disruptions.

The legislation amends several acts, including the Election Act, Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act, Alberta Senate Election Act, Referendum Act, Recall Act, and Citizen Initiative Act, governing Alberta’s democratic processes.

The government said these changes aim to create new opportunities for public participation while ensuring Alberta’s elections reflect the will of its citizens. Bill 54 is now before the legislature for debate and consideration.