Premier Danielle Smith stepped up to fix Alberta’s fake citizens’ initiative legislation. I say 'fake' because the legislation was crafted by former Premier Jason Kenney’s government to keep a promise, but the legislation was purposely made dysfunctional so it could never be used. The bar to initiate a referendum had been set so ridiculously high, it was never going to happen.The bar to initiating a referendum has now been reduced to gathering signatures totalling 10% of the turnout in the last election on an official petition within a 120-day period. That’s about 177,000 signatures or so. It’s no small feat to garner that many signatures, but it is achievable if the issue is truly on Albertans' minds. The effort required to invoke a referendum is still high enough that frivolous efforts are unlikely to occur.While the conversation on the legislation has been dominated with talk of potentially holding an Alberta independence referendum, people are forgetting the legislation can be used for all kinds of initiatives..Direct democracy is one of the purest forms of democratic policy formulation. What better way to enshrine a policy than to get permission directly from the citizens impacted by it in a democratic vote?Elitists despise direct democracy. Direct democracy empowers the unwashed masses. It brings policy discussions from the back rooms of power brokers into the living rooms and pub tables of citizens. In fact, it turns the citizens into the power brokers.Direct democracy can put authoritarians in check.Putting policy decisions directly into the hands of the citizens isn’t new. It’s just new to Albertans. Switzerland is one of the world’s oldest and most stable democracies and constant citizen-initiated referenda are an integral part of their system. They hold several votes per year on policy initiatives..The bar to initiate a referendum in Switzerland is relatively low. Only 50,000 citizens need to sign a petition to initiate a referendum on legislative issues and 100,000 for constitutional issues. Opponents to direct democracy like to claim that such a system would lead to an overwhelming number of initiatives, causing a gridlock in policy implementation. However, that hasn’t happened in Switzerland. Citizens there tend to be responsible about which proposals they will sign petitions for, as they understand it likely could wind up on the ballot. They have little time for whimsical proposals.There are still elected legislators who draft and implement policies in Switzerland but they hold a different attitude than their Canadian counterparts. Since legislation can end up going to the citizens in a referendum if it is considered divisive, the legislative branches of governments in Switzerland are strongly inspired to consult the citizens before crafting bills. Poorly crafted policies — or policies opposed by the majority — can and will be rejected by citizens in short order. Politicians in Switzerland understand they must answer directly to the citizens.Switzerland’s system isn’t perfect by any means. No system is. But, their respect for allowing direct participation by the citizens in policy creation is unmatched, and it works. With the size and geography of Switzerland, it offers a fantastic model in several ways for other regions in Canada considering increased or total independence from the federation..Allowing citizens to vote in referenda isn’t an abdication of duty by elected officials. Our politicians are supposed to reflect the will of the people rather than direct it. Controversial or divisive policies are best put straight to the electors rather than a small legislative chamber where self-interest and lobbyists can unduly influence decisions.While discussions about Alberta independence rage, let’s not forget that referenda can apply to much more than independence. Premier Smith’s Bill 54 opens the door for initiatives on everything from major infrastructure projects to potentially ending the annual time changes for daylight savings time. If referenda are bundled with multiple questions on one ballot, it can be efficient. Going to the polls more often isn’t a task. It’s a privilege.Elitists will clutch pearls and howl in indignation as the power to make change lands in the hands of the commoners. Let them. Populism can have drawbacks. But it is infinitely better than authoritarianism.
