Bill 211 — First Session, 25Th Legislature, 50 Elizabeth Ii the Legislative Assembly of Alberta Bill 211 Citizens’ Initiative Act Rev. Abbott (Legislature 25, Session 1)

L25 S1 90

Alberta — Bills

2001 BILL 211 First Session, 25th Legislature, 50 Elizabeth II THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA BILL 211 CITIZENS’ INITIATIVE ACT REV. ABBOTT First Reading Second Reading Committee of the Whole Third Reading Royal Assent Title: 2001 (25th, 1st) Bill 211, Citizens' Initiative Act

Bill 211 Rev. Abbott BILL 211 2001 CITIZENS’ INITIATIVE ACT (Assented to , 2001) HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows:

Definitions1(1) In this Act, (a) “initiative petition” means a petition for a vote to have a proposed law introduced in the Legislative Assembly; (b) “initiative election” means an election held under

Part 2 after a successful initiative petition; (c) “initiative vote” means the issue which is the subject matter of an initiative election; (d) “petitioner” means an individual who signs an initiative petition.

(2) Subject to subsection (1), words and expressions used in this Act have the meanings given to them in the Election Act.

PART 1 INITIATIVE PETITIONS Subject matter of proposals 2(1) Subject to subsection (2), a proposal for an initiative petition may be made with respect to any matter within the jurisdiction of the Legislature.

(2) A proposal for an initiative petition shall be rejected if the initiative petition 1

(

a) requires an expenditure of public funds, (

b) requires the imposition of a tax or impost, or (

c) is contrary to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Application for an initiative petition 3(1) An elector who wishes to apply for the issuance of an initiative petition shall submit a proposal to the Chief Electoral Officer.

(2) An application for an initiative petition must include (

a) the name and residential address of the applicant; (

b) the proposed wording of an initiative petition which must (

i) be 25 words or less, and (ii) be written in such a form that it could constitute the basis for an initiative vote if the initiative petition was successful; (

c) a draft Bill suitable for introduction in the Legislative Assembly which must comply with

section 2 and be drafted in a clear and unambiguous manner; (

d) a non-refundable application fee of $200; (

e) an affidavit sworn by the applicant attesting that the applicant (

i) is 18 years of age or older, (ii) is a Canadian citizen, and (iii) is or has been for the immediately preceding 6 months ordinarily resident in Alberta.

(3) An application for an initiative petition must not relate to a matter that is the same or substantially the same as (

a) any other initiative petition that has been issued by the Chief Electoral Officer within the 12 months preceding the application, 2

(

b) the subject of a successful initiative petition on which an initiative election has yet to be held, or (

c) the subject of an initiative election that has been held since the immediately preceding general election. Issue of an initiative petition 4(1) If the Chief Electoral Officer is satisfied that an application for an initiative petition meets the requirements of sections 2 and 3, the Chief Electoral Officer must issue an initiative petition in the form prescribed in the regulations.

(2) Within 45 days of the receipt of an application for an initiative petition, the Chief Electoral Officer must notify the applicant in writing (

a) that the application is successful and an initiative petition will be issued, (

b) that the application is unsuccessful and an initiative petition will not be issued, or (

c) of possible amendments that may, in the Chief Electoral Officer's sole opinion, result in the issuance of an initiative petition if the applicant were to reapply.

(3) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2), the Chief Electoral Officer shall not issue an initiative petition if there are 5 successful initiative petitions on which initiative elections have not been held.

(4) The Chief Electoral Officer shall review applications for initiative petitions in the order in which they are received.

(5) The Chief Electoral Officer may seek any advice that he, in his sole discretion, deems necessary to determine whether an application for an initiative petition meets the requirements of this Act. Requirements for an initiative petition 5(1) In order to be successful, an initiative petition must be submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer within 180 days from the date on which the initiative petition was issued under

section 4 and have a number of signatures of electors or persons eligible to be electors equal to or exceeding (a) 10% of the total votes cast in the immediately preceding provincial general election, and 3

(b) 10% of the total votes cast in not less than 2/3 of the electoral divisions in the immediately preceding provincial general election.

(2) An initiative petition must consist of one or more pages, each of which must contain an identical statement as approved by the Chief Electoral Officer under

section 4.

(3) An initiative petition must include for each petitioner (

a) the printed surname and printed given names or initials of the petitioner, (

b) the petitioner's signature, (

c) the street address of the petitioner or the legal description of the land on which the petitioner lives, and (

d) the date on which the petitioner signed the petition.

(4) Only individuals who are or who are eligible to be electors may be petitioners. Review of completed initiative petition 6(1) The Chief Electoral Officer shall determine whether the initiative petition meets the requirements of

section 5 within 45 days of the receipt of the initiative petition and the financing information required under

Part 3.

(2) In determining whether an initiative petition meets the requirements of

section 5, the Chief Electoral Officer may use a random statistical sampling method with a 95% confidence level instead of verifying the information provided by each petitioner.

(3) The Chief Electoral Officer may make public the financing information required under

Part 3 whenever he decides, but in no event shall he make it public later than the date on which he determines whether the initiative petition is successful.

PART 2 INITIATIVE ELECTION Report by the Chief Electoral Officer 7(1) If the Chief Electoral Officer determines that an initiative petition meets the requirements of

section 5 and

Part 3, the Chief Electoral Officer shall report to the Lieutenant Governor in Council that the initiative petition is successful. 4

(2) When the Chief Electoral Officer reports that an initiative petition is successful, the Lieutenant Governor in Council shall, within 6 months of the date of the report, set a time for the holding of an initiative election.

(3) An order under subsection (2) shall specify whether the initiative election is to be held (

a) in conjunction with a general election under the Election Act, or (

b) in conjunction with the general elections under the Local Authorities Election Act. Application of Election Act8(1) If an initiative election is to be held in conjunction with a general election under the Election Act, the Election Act and the regulations under it apply, with all necessary modifications, to the initiative election except as otherwise provided by the regulations under this Act.

(2) The persons eligible to vote at an initiative election to which the Election Act applies are the persons who would be eligible to vote at an election under the Election Act on the day the initiative election is held. Application of Local Authorities Election Act 9(1) If an initiative election is to be held in conjunction with the general elections under the Local Authorities Election Act, the Local Authorities Election Act and the regulations under it apply, with all necessary modifications, to the initiative election except as otherwise provided by the regulations under this Act.

(2) The persons eligible to vote at an initiative election to which the Local Authorities Election Act applies are the persons who would be eligible to vote at an election under the Local Authorities Election Act on the day the initiative election is held. When councils to conduct vote 10(1) When an initiative election is to be held under the Local Authorities Election Act, every council shall conduct the initiative election of the electors residing in the municipality, except as otherwise provided in this section.

(2) The council shall conduct the initiative election notwithstanding that a general election under the Local Authorities Election Act is not required in that municipality. 5

(3) If a council has entered into an agreement with one or more elected authorities in the same area for the conduct of a general election under the Local Authorities Election Act, the elected authority that is responsible for the conduct of the general election under the agreement shall conduct the initiative election and has all the rights, powers and duties of a council to conduct the initiative election.

(4) The Minister of Municipal Affairs is responsible for conducting an initiative election of the electors residing in improvement districts, special areas, Métis settlements, summer villages, Indian reserves and national parks and for the purposes of the initiative election has all the rights, powers and duties of a council to conduct the initiative election, including the authority to appoint returning officers and other election officers.

(5) The Minister of Municipal Affairs may enter into an agreement (

a) with any elected authority in the area or in an area adjacent to an improvement district, special area, Métis settlement, summer village, new town, Indian reserve or national park, or (

b) with the advisory council of an improvement district or the advisory committee of a special area, the settlement council of a Métis settlement, the board of administrators of a new town or the council of a summer village to conduct the initiative election on the Minister's behalf, and the elected authority, advisory council, advisory committee, settlement council, board of administrators or council has authority to enter into such an agreement.

(6) An elected authority, advisory council, advisory committee, settlement council, board of administrators or council that enters into an agreement under subsection (5) has all the rights, powers and duties of the Minister of Municipal Affairs to conduct the initiative election.

(7) In this section, “council” and “elected authority” include the council of the City of Lloydminster. Results of initiative election 11(1) The Chief Electoral Officer shall announce the results of an initiative election.

(2) The Chief Electoral Officer must declare an initiative vote to be 6

successful if (

a) more than 60% of the electors voting in the initiative election vote in favour of the initiative, and (

b) more than 60% of the total number of electors voting in each of at least 2/3 of the electoral divisions vote in favour of the initiative. Effect of a successful initiative election 12 If the Chief Electoral Officer declares an initiative vote to be successful, the Government must introduce the Bill at the next sitting of the Legislative Assembly.

PART 3 INITIATIVE FINANCING AND ADVERTISING Regulations for initiative financing 13(1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the financing of initiative petitions and initiative elections under this Act.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations (

a) establishing what is to be considered a contribution or expense in relation to an initiative petition or initiative election under this Act; (

b) establishing restrictions on (

i) who may accept contributions, (ii) how contributions must be made and accepted, and (iii) information that must be recorded regarding contributions; (

c) establishing restrictions on (

i) who may incur expenses, (ii) how an expense must be authorized by the individual or organization incurring it, (iii) information that must be recorded regarding expenses, and 7

(iv) the amount of expenses that may be incurred by (

A) any one individual or organization, or (

B) all individuals and organizations that support or oppose an initiative petition or initiative vote; (

d) establishing a registration scheme to be administered by the Chief Electoral Officer; (

e) requiring the reporting of information respecting contributions and expenses; (

f) requiring the public disclosure of information reported under clause (e), including the disclosure of the names of contributors; (

g) establishing penalties for exceeding a limit established under clause (

c) or for failing to make a report under clause (e).

(3) Without limiting subsection (2)(g), the regulations may provide that an initiative petition or an initiative election fails if the proponent or the supporters of an initiative petition or initiative election exceed a limit established under subsection (2)(

c) or fail to make a report or make a false or misleading report that is required under subsection (2)(e).

(4) For the purposes of this section, using property and services in such a manner that the use is an expense as defined in a regulation under subsection (2)(

a) is incurring an expense. Regulations for initiative advertising 14(1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations respecting advertising and opinion surveys in relation to initiative petitions and initiative elections under this Act.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations as follows: (

a) establishing what is to be considered advertising and opinion surveys in relation to initiative petitions and initiative elections under this Act; (

b) establishing restrictions on (

i) when advertising or opinion surveys may take 8

place or be conducted, and (ii) who may sponsor advertising and opinion surveys; (

c) restricting or prohibiting the charging of amounts for advertising in relation to initiative petitions or initiative elections under this Act that exceed the rate usually charged for equivalent advertising; (

d) respecting the publication of the results of opinion surveys; (

e) establishing penalties for contravening the regulations.

PART 4 OFFENCES Prosecution of organizations and their directors and agents 15(1)

An act or thing done or omitted by an officer, director, employee or agent of an organization within the scope of the individual's authority to act on behalf of the organization is deemed to be

an act or thing done or omitted by the organization.

(2) If an organization commits an offence under this Act, an officer, director, employee or agent of the organization who authorizes, permits or acquiesces in the offence commits the same offence, whether or not the organization is convicted of the offence.

(3) A prosecution for an offence under this Act may be brought against an unincorporated organization in the name of the organization and, for the purposes of the prosecution, the unincorporated organization is deemed to be a person. Defence of due diligence 16 An individual or organization is not guilty of an offence under this Act if the individual or organization exercised due diligence to prevent the commission of the offence. Signature and buying offences 17(1) No person shall pay, give, lend or procure an inducement for any of the following purposes: (

a) to a person for canvassing for individuals to be petitioners; (

b) to induce a person to sign an initiative petition or refrain from signing an initiative petition; or 9

(

c) to reward a person for having signed an initiative petition or refrained from signing an initiative petition.

(2) No person shall accept an inducement (

a) for canvassing for individuals to be petitioners, (

b) to sign an initiative petition or refrain from signing an initiative petition, or (

c) as a reward for having signed an initiative petition or refrained from signing an initiative petition.

(3) No person shall advance, pay or otherwise provide an inducement, or cause an inducement to be provided, knowing or with the intent that it is to be used for any of the acts prohibited by this section.

(4) No person shall offer, agree or promise to do anything otherwise prohibited by this section.

(5) A person prohibited from doing something by this

section must not do the prohibited act directly, indirectly or by another person on behalf of the first person. Intimidation offences18(1) In this

section “intimidate” means to do or threaten to (

a) use force, violence or restraint against a person, (

b) inflict injury, harm, damage or loss on a person or property, or (

c) otherwise intimidate a person.

(2) No person shall intimidate another person (

a) to persuade or compel a person to sign an initiative petition or refrain from signing an initiative petition, or (

b) to punish a person for having signed an initiative petition or refrained from signing an initiative petition.

(3) No person shall, by abduction, duress or fraudulent means (

a) impede, prevent or otherwise interfere with a person's right to sign an initiative petition, or 10

(

b) compel, persuade or otherwise cause a person to sign an initiative petition or refrain from signing an initiative petition.

(4) A person prohibited from doing something by this

section must not do the prohibited act directly, indirectly or by another person on behalf of the first person. Penalty19(1) An individual or organization that contravenes sections 17, 18 or the regulations under sections 13 and 14 is guilty of an offence.

(2) Unless otherwise specifically provided, an individual or organization who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable to a fine of not more than $5 000 or imprisonment for a term not longer than one year, or both. Offences in relation to false or misleading information 20(1) An individual or organization that (

a) knowingly provides false or misleading information when required or authorized by this Act or the regulations to provide information, or (

b) knowingly makes a false or misleading statement or declaration when required by this Act or the regulations to make a statement or declaration, is guilty of an offence.

(2) An individual or organization who commits an offence under this

section is liable, in addition to any penalties referred to in the regulations under

Part 3, to a fine of not more than $10 000 or imprisonment for a term not longer than 2 years, or both.

PART 5 GENERAL Regulations21 The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations (

a) prescribing the form of the application for an initiative petition; (

b) prescribing the form of the initiative petition; 11

(

c) prescribing the duties and powers of the Chief Electoral Officer in connection with initiative elections; (

d) modifying the provisions of the Election Act and the Local Authorities Election Act and the regulations under those Acts to make them applicable to the requirements of an initiative election, including adding to and declaring any provision of those Acts and regulations to be or not to be applicable to the initiative election; (

e) generally respecting any other matters and things relating to the holding and conduct of an initiative election that the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers necessary to carry out the intent of this Act.

PART 6 CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS AND COMING INTO FORCE Amends RSA 1980 cE-2 22 The Election Act is amended (

a) in

section 4(1)(a), (

b) and (

c) by adding “, the Citizens’ Initiative Act” before “and the Senatorial Selection Act”; (

b) in

section 4(3) by adding “initiative election under the Citizens’ Initiative Act,” after “election under the Senatorial Selection Act,”; (

c) in

section 7(1) by adding “, initiative elections under the Citizens’ Initiative Act” after “plebiscites under this Act”. Coming into force23 This Act comes into force on Proclamation. 12 Title: 2001 (25th, 1st) Bill 211, Citizens' Initiative Act

Document details

Collection	Alberta — Bills
Citation	L25 S1 90
Type	bill
Volume / chapter	L25 S1 90
Language	en
Format	json
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	3eaf17335856b1e02c99acdbe033d3e306a3c349

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