Medicine Hat, AB – It took just four days for the Alberta Legislature to pass Bill 22
“10 Hours. That’s how long it took this UCP government to dismantle democracy,” said opposition leader Rachel Notley.
The bill terminates the contract of the province’s election watchdog.
He’s in the midst of his investigation into the UCP’s leadership convention.
The UCP invoked closure on all three stages to fast track the final vote.
“No time for the public to understand the bill, no time for the media to ask questions, no time for our opposition to write amendments,” Notley said.
Cypress- Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes disagreed though, believing there was enough time.
“To see a government that knows that the amount of debate time has to be respected but not abused either. And here we’re in a situation where the NDP, the opposition is given lots of time at all three steps to state their case. And I think it’s good to be a government that wants to get things done,” he said, calling Edmonton.
The vote went through after Notley received a response to her letter to ethics commissioner to intervene.
Notley had asked Marguerite Trussler to intervene.
“No specific allegations have been made that any MLA voted on Bill 22 and thereby contravened the above sections of the Conflicts of Interest Act.“As a result, I do not have sufficient particulars to investigate at this time,” Trussler wrote.
As well that she doesn’t have the power to request the government delay the vote ADDING it would be “improper to interfere with the political process.”
For Barnes, he says the bill is solely about saving money and not to get rid of the investigation.
“When this position was created by the NDP about a year and a half ago, the Chief Electoral Officer at the time said it was redundant and that it wasn’t necessary. He could handle all of this within his department. But the NDP charged ahead and set up a department that cost a million dollars a year,” Barnes continued. “So let’s let Mr. Resler, who is the existing guy, let’s let him look at it. And let him determine what’s best. He’s an independent officer of the legislature, so let’s let him determine the best way to make sure the system is fair going forward.”
Former Speaker of the House, David J. Carter who lives in Cypress Hills, doesn’t see it the same.
This motion to this bill, which is going to effectively discharge a member of duly appointed by the legislative assembly. Not appointed by the government. The government seems to have gotten… not done their homework or they choose to ignore it,” he said.
Premier Jason Kenney is out of the country and did not vote in the house.
Before the bill can be made law, the Lieutenant Governor must sigh off and the NDP has already been asking for her to intervene.
