Editor:
The proposed new legislation from the Alberta government in Bill 20 would give provincial cabinet the ability to remove councillors and mayors, repeal or amend municipal bylaws and even postpone elections – yes, postpone elections – if the cabinet clan decides it would be “in the public interest”. That’s right, folks, just the cabinet clan, in secret, behind closed doors, without any public accountability required.
And the bill does not even set out any criteria as to what “the public interest” is, nor what guidelines cabinet must consider to either repeal a bylaw or remove a councillor.
Frau Smith and her brownshirts have made a living off of distracting citizens from the real problems in our province by waging endless battles with the federal government, claiming Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should stay out of our way. But now, the United Cronie Party is proposing exactly that to their fellow Albertans, stripping us of the most basic legal and democratic right to fairly elect local municipal officials without interference from the privileged clan hiding in glass towers and back rooms.
And they can’t even admit the stupidity and contradiction in doing so.
In my opinion – while I can still express it – is that their attempt to ruin the foundations of our democracy by directly interfering in local governments by over-ruling the will of the citizens is a disgusting disgrace and should be met with strong opposition by all.
Ric Proctor,
Canmore
