In a move critics are calling “the legislative equivalent of yanking the fire alarm during your own exam,” the Alberta government unveiled Bill 14 on Thursday, proposing sweeping changes to how citizen-led referendum questions are approved – just in time to derail an inconveniently active court case.
Justice Minister Mickey Amery insists the bill simply creates a “permissive environment,” a phrase that here appears to mean transferring key powers from the chief electoral officer to… Mickey Amery. The legislation also helpfully includes a provision to discontinue any pesky court proceedings launched by said chief electoral officer – a coincidence officials described as “cosmic timing.”
The changes arrive only weeks after Justice Colin Feasby heard arguments about whether it’s constitutional to ask Albertans if they’d like to break up with Canada. A ruling was expected soon, but Bill 14 seems poised to slip a note under the judge’s door reading: “Never mind.”
Supporters say the bill empowers citizens. Detractors note it mostly empowers the minister with the pen.
