Alberta votes against equalization in provincial referendum

Politics Insider for October 20, 2021: One vote against equalization; new mayors in Calgary and Edmonton; Green Party cuts

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Albertans voted Monday in a province-wide plebiscite calling for the equalization system (an area of ​​federal jurisdiction) to be removed from the constitution, and while the results won’t be known for another week, it seems that it happened. Advocates say this should lead to reform in the program, the Mail reports.

Kevin Lacey, the Alberta director of the Canadian Federation of Taxpayers, described the referendum as one of the “most important and important constitutional referendums” since the failure of the Charlottetown Accord in 1992. “Albertans sent a clear message that, although they are willing to contribute to Canada, they will no longer take advantage of them and the results show that Albertans want to stand up and want to see changeLacey told the National Post.

Just a small step: Political scientist Barry cooper tells the Hill times the next step should be a referendum on independence.

Not a great deal: Other political scientists, however, say the vote takes no legal weight and it will not force Ottawa to do anything.

“A change in the Constitution requires something close to full consensus across Canada,” said Eric Adams, a University of Alberta professor specializing in constitutional law. “I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone that Alberta isn’t anywhere close to reaching that consensus on equalization, and I don’t think that’s going to change.”

Muddy waters: At Balloon, Andrew Coyne argues in a funny way that the rest of Canada should ignore the vote.

Also, the results in Alberta are anything but “clear.” Not only is the majority unlikely to far exceed 50 percent, but the prime minister greatly muddied the meaning of the vote. Jason kenney, who insisted that it was not about the question on the ballot, the one he put there, but about giving Alberta “leverage” to demand changes to the program.

Again, this would be enough for the rest of Canada to ignore the result. A referendum on an explicit demand for a specific constitutional change is one thing, but a referendum that has been publicly and repeatedly described by its backers as a giant bluff practically begs to be ignored.

Focus on the seats: At Calgary herald, Rob breakenridge argues persuasively that adding three seats to the House of Commons for chronically underrepresented Alberta will do more than the referendum to give Alberta influence in Ottawa.

New mayors: Edmonton and Calgary also elected new mayors, both from first-generation Canadians with Punjabi heritage.

Hill vaccination mandate: Parliamentarians will have to be vaccinated to enter the parliamentary compound, has decided the internal economy board, CTV reports. Will some conservatives object? There are reasons to wonder. the Western standard compare those not attacked Soviet spies.

Green job cuts: The Green Party is laying off staff as the party’s top brass seek to cut costs, CP reports. Too, Annamie Paul is still the leader, apparently.

Paul, who announced last month that he would resign, remains in the top spot as he negotiates with Green executives over compensation for costs incurred during legal battles with the party, sources say.