Alberta Legislature

By Charles Lefebvre

Bill 22 passes third reading

Nov 21, 2019 | 12:13 PM

EDMONTON, AB — A bill that allows the United Conservative Party government to fire the elections commissioner has passed third reading.

During Thursday morning’s session of the legislature, the bill was passed 34-13. It will now go to Lt. Governor Lois Mitchell for Royal Assent.

The bill, introduced Monday, terminates the contract of Elections Commissioner Lorne Gilbert, and transfers his office to the office of the Chief Electoral Office.

Gilbert was investigating the United Conservative Party’s 2017 leadership race, won by Jason Kenney, and had handed out over $200,000 in fines for illegal campaign contributions to the Jeff Callaway campaign.

Callaway is alleged to have run as a “kamikaze candidate” who collaborated with Kenney’s campaign during the leadership race. It is alleged that Callaway targeted Jean during debates and other appearances, to allow Kenney to avoid making the attacks.

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Callaway withdrew from the running before the vote and endorsed Kenney,

Callaway and Kenney have both repeatedly denied the allegations.

RCMP are also investigating the 2017 leadership race over allegations of voter identification fraud.

The NDP have criticized the bill, with leader Rachel Notley calling it “an abuse of power and an assault on the principles of democracy.”

Notley also wrote to the Ethics Commissioner to intervene, though the commissioner responded she couldn’t investigate, as no specific allegations were made.

The commissioner added anybody who is being investigated by the elections commission or the RCMP could be in violation of the Conflict of Interest Act if they voted on Bill 22.