"Death kiss to local representation" is how the mayor of Calgary responds to Bill

Mayor Jyoti Gondek of Calgary expresses concern that new provincial laws will increase big money involvement in local elections while decreasing leadership.

On Friday, the Alberta government unveiled significant new modifications to the electoral process.



If there isn't a significant UCP rethink, the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, or Bill 20, will take effect at the end of October.

It will allow corporate and union financing once more and bring political parties to the Calgary and Edmonton elections of the following year.


On Friday, local leaders from all around the province expressed their disapproval of the bill and bemoaned the apparent lack of engagement.

Maybe Gondek was the most agitated of them all She told reporters, "It's a kiss of death to local democracy and local representation."

"The days of independent candidates who actually represent you look like they're going to be over."

Some members of the councils in Edmonton and Calgary have previously expressed their opposition to the legislation this summer.

On Friday, the names of Alberta Municipalities and the Rural Municipalities of Alberta were added to the hat.

According to a statement released by the latter, which is made up of 265 member villages, the law will "create an uneven playing field for candidates in a more costly electoral process."Not a valid attachment ID.

The former's president, Paul McLauchlin, tells CTV News that he wishes the province had given towns more input before implementing the significant reforms.

"This wasn't really requested, so "That's kind of our overall view, from my members," he remarked.

"The thumb being on the scale truly worries me. I am aware of the provincial government's intense fixation on Calgary's local politics."

Gondek concurs that it's a step too far.


She is particularly angry about a section of the measure that will outlaw tabulator machines and require local governments to foot the expense for human ballot counting on election night.

Although the government asserts that it would strengthen voting security, tabulators have been shown to be more accurate, quicker, and less expensive than manual vote counting.

"I would say that it's probably our job to dispel the myths around tabulators moreso than try to appease people who have a conspiracy theory," Gondek stated.

"Tabulators" Municipalities will incur higher costs as a result of our need to hire more staff.

"It also means you'll all be waiting longer to get the (election) results."

Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver dismissed the notion when asked if the province will contribute any funds on Friday.

According to him, local governments bear the financial burden of organizing local elections.

Critics claim that the remark is unjust.

"It's pretty rich for the Government of Alberta to say that it's local municipalities that run elections," Gondek stated.

"We are the worker bees that make those elections happen — the rules are set up by the province."


[attachment deleted by admin]