EDMONTON (660 NEWS) — With a little over a year to go until the next municipal elections in Calgary and Edmonton, proposed changes from the provincial government will adjust the landscape for those votes.
On Wednesday, Municipal Affairs Minister Kaycee Madu introduced Bill 29, which seeks adjustments to local government election rules — including school boards — and sets the stage for more campaign contributions along with looser advertising guidelines.
“The next round of local elections will be critical for the future of Alberta,” Madu said.
He said the changes will level the playing field by adjusting contribution limits so Albertans can donate a maximum of $5,000 to as many candidates as they like, and third-party advertisers can discuss issues more openly and frequently as the definition of political advertising will be removed from the act.
“To be able to have the flexibility to be able to support all kinds of local issues. I want them to have the freedom — which is a constitutional right — to be able to focus on the local issues in any municipality that they want to be a part of,” Madu said.
Madu added that he hopes changes like these will encourage larger voter turnout as well, with more attention being paid to various issues.
On questions that there may be concerns about these rules opening the door for more big corporate or union interests through the form of big money, Madu said the changes are in response to concerns raised by politicians and stakeholders after some adjustments were made by the previous government in 2018.
“This is something that was supported by the mayor of Calgary, if you would believe that,” Madu said.
Also, there will no longer be a requirement for campaigns to disclose the source of contributions during the election, and instead will be able to do so after it is concluded.
“I want candidates to focus on their campaign and their vision for why they want to be elected,” he added.
Campaigns that have a surplus of $1,000 or more when an election is over will have to donate the extra cash to charity, rather than holding it in a trust, which Madu also believes can make the process easier for new candidates. A surplus of less than $1,000 can be held by the candidate.
Candidates will be able to self-finance for up to $10,000 per year, and the limit that candidates can raise from outside the campaign period is being raised from $2,000 to $5,000 annually.
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi also recently raised concerns about the possibility of a referendum on equalization being latched on to the municipal elections in 2021, thinking this will taint the process and open the door for special interests to take hold.
Madu had sharp words for the mayor on this topic and said similar referendums have been held in prior elections.
“I hear the mayor of Calgary loud and clear, but at the end of the day, this is a matter for the provincial government and not for the council in Calgary to decide.”
If the legislation is passed, it would take effect on September 1.
