Thursday, January 14, 2016

Albertans Are Seeking Referendums


            Extraordinary efforts are being pursued by some Albertans to try to change the mind of the 8 month  old NDP government in Alberta.  According to reporter Jan Gerson, in the National Post on January 11,  people are actively complaining all over the province.
         They are completely frustrated by some decisions resulting  from the surprising ascent of the new Premier Rachel Notley.  Such  include the idea of instituting  a carbon tax. Some are also wildly opposed to the proposals to improve farm safety. There are regional groups all over including, in Grande prairie and Red Deer  ”incensed by the NDP’s ceaseless rat-a-tat-tat legislation” – according to the report.
         Some are even trying to find a way to “recall” Noxley.  The methods include a serious effort to present a petition  of  80,000 names  to the  Lt. Governor, Lois Mitchell.
         Mob rule has been threatened such that the opposition leader Brian Jean has had to issue a public plea to keep the tone of debate more civil. Considerable, new unemployment   is compounding the problems. But, George Clark, the leader of the group trying to obtain the petition said – “I’m trying  to help those people direct that anger into some form of positive action”.
          As the article suggests – “Western Canadian politics have a long-standing affection for direct democracy by which Alberta’s populace can force its government to hold a plebiscite:” (my comment – they really mean a binding referendum). 
         Although clearly there is no legislation to permit such action now,   Clark, is hoping to find a legal arrow  to “lift the spell of the last election and restore Alberta to its normal state”. One activist named Ben, who would not leave his last name because of receiving threats,  says that he knows that the petition has no legal force; “and that the Lt. Governor is not an instrument of the popular will. But he  is doing it anyhow”. “What else do you do, he asks. Its about accountability”. 
          Formally instituted Direct Democracy in Alberta  could certainly now be very helpful there,  say I.