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.