MLA for Drumheller-Settler Rick Strankman has introduced his first private members bill to level the playing field during elections in Alberta.
However, the governing party promptly rejected it.
Strankman introduced Bill 203, Election Amendment Act, focusing on restricting government advertising during the election.
During a by-election in the fall of 2014, then Education Minister Gordon Dirks authorized the addition of modular classrooms for a school shortly before the election was called. The Alberta Ethics Commissioner acknowledged that he used his office for partisan purposes, but did not violate the province’s legal definition of Conflict of Interest.
The bill was introduced also Thursday, and then was debated on Monday.
“It was presented and then we go through the house to hear opinions on whether to support it or not,” said Strankman.
He was not sure how his bill would be received. He said many of the sitting MLAs had not been elected at the time of the 2014 by-election.
“I have mixed opinions about it…they are inexperienced and they could play a role in how this is received,” said Strankman.
This discussion did not go well. At second reading.
“It’s confusing that Premier Notley has decided to turn her back on a promise to support legislation banning government announcements during elections,” Strankman said in a press release. “Last election, Albertans said loud and clear they wanted to see politics done differently in this province. The NDP’s decision to kill this bill is baffling and deeply disappointing.”
He said that Notley had in fact campaigned on making such reforms, citing a website article from December 2014, when the NDP introduced its accountabilities priories, including the ‘Dirks Clause,’ to “fixing the Elections Act to prohibit MLAs from using government resources during elections or by-elections.”
“This was an easy opportunity to pass a law that all well-meaning legislators support,” Strankman said. “I really thought the NDP could look past partisanship on this one, but apparently not.”
