In recent years Provincial voter turnout has been reduced to record lows. In an effort to understand this voter apathy I took a look at how our Government functions. This is where I discovered a probable root of the problem.
When we elect our local MLAs to represent us in the Provincial Legislature, we expect them to vote on issues in a manner that reflects the will of their local constituents. Regrettably this is not the way the Government functions. In reality, the Premier appoints their Cabinet Ministers, and this small select group go behind closed doors and determine major decisions. They emerge from these closed-door meetings and dictate to the rest of their party how the party will vote.
For decades the Legislature has governed by dictating to their Party to vote "the will of the Premier”, not "the will of their constituents".
This means a select few within the government have control over the Province. This is more reflective of a dictatorship than a democracy.
The way the Legislature should function is that issues should be debated on the floor of the Legislature, not behind closed doors, and the discussions should be open and transparent. All MLAs should be provided with details and information in a timely manner so they can be reviewed and evaluated prior to a vote. Unfortunately, opposition MLAs do not receive necessary information to make a full determination on a matter, or they receive the information too late for there to be time to raise objections prior to a vote. These measures also thwart the process of democracy and make it impossible for opposition MLAs to effectively oppose the will of the Premier and inner Cabinet.
There are things that can be done to restore democracy. It is possible and it is necessary to legislate that all MLAs are free to vote "the will of their constituents". This alone would be transformational in terms of restoring democracy. Additional measures such as introducing the "right of recall” would further strengthen the rights of constituents to demand accountability of their elected officials. The right of recall would allow constituents to collect a petition (of a prescribed % of previous voters signatures), which would then allow constituents to recall their MLA.
This disregard for the will of the people has contributed to the apathy we see throughout the Province when elections are held. Hopefully Albertans will demand an accountable Government and restore democracy in the next provincial election.
Dixie Dahlstedt
Wildrose Candidate
Glendon
