CALGARY, AB – Referendum topics in the upcoming municipal elections are now set in stone with equalization payments, daylight saving time, and senate nominee selections on the ballot this fall.
Premier Jason Kenney says they’ve spent years talking about changing the equalization payment formula to better suit this province.
He adds now is the time to let Albertans have their say on the subject.
“Albertans are happy to share some of our good fortune when times are good here but bad elsewhere. But what we find very frustrating is a system which has had us contributing, on average $20 billion a year net through our federal taxes, to other provinces.”
When it comes to the issue of daylight saving time, Services Alberta Minister Nate Glubish says every Albertan has an opinion.
The question was asked informally two years ago and of the 141,000 responses, 91 percent favoured year-round summer hours.
The province first adopted daylight saving time following a referendum in 1971 and Glubish says it’s only fair to provide that same opportunity now.
More and more governments across Canada and the US are bringing forward legislation to move to permanent daylight saving time and while the referendum question hasn’t yet been finalized, it will be on the municipal election ballot this fall.
Along with the municipal elections and two referendum questions, Albertans will also elect three Senate nominees – one for each of the two current vacancies and one in case of early retirement.
Left off the referendum list were questions regarding the creation of an Alberta Pension Plan and a Provincial Police Force.
