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By Liam Verster
Recall legislation

CTF calls on UCP to make good on proposed Recall Legislation

Jan 14, 2021 | 1:47 PM

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is leading the charge on calling for the Alberta Government to follow through on proposed Recall Legislation.

The United Conservative Party campaigned on the proposed legislation during the last provincial election, and Premier Jason Kenney repeated the need for the legislation in February 2020 during the Speech from the Throne.

The proposed bill would allow voters to gather signatures and force a by-election in their constituency.

With the announcement by Kenney on social media Thursday morning of MLA Pat Rehn being removed from the UCP caucus, but maintaining his role as an Independent MLA, the CTF is calling for the bill’s revival.

Franco Terrazzano, the Alberta Director of the CTF, says the public is very frustrated with Rehn and his lack of representation. Coupled with the Holiday Travel Scandal, which has led to the Town of Slave Lake demanding his resignation, and the Town of High Prairie asking for more presence in the region, Terrazzano says the voters should have a say as to Rehn’s future as MLA.

Terrazzano adds while he may not be part of the UCP anymore, Rehn is still making a six-figure salary, which comes out of the taxpayers pockets.

“The annual MLA salary is [$120,936], but there’s also extra expenses and benefits, like there’s another [$16,548] for a retirement investment payment,” says Terrazzano.

“So MLA Rehn, he’s still going to be collecting a six-figure salary paycheck, so it should be up to Albertans whether or not he remains in the Legislature, or whether or not he gets sent packing.”

While asking for the Recall Legislation to be brought forward, Terrazzano and the CTF also note that it needs a revision first.

As it’s currently written, the by-election would only be forced if a petition was formed and 40 per cent of the eligible voters signed it. He says that figure is too high, and should be brought down to 25 per cent.

“That 40 per cent threshold is used in British Columbia, where they’ve had Recall Legislation since 1995, but they’ve only had one successful recall campaign, and a reason for that is because the threshold is too high.”

He also notes the threshold should be set at 25 per cent of the voter turnout from the previous election, and not a percentage based on all eligible voters in the constituency.

by Liam Verster