Should Alberta Change Its Local Election Rules?

Official title: Local election rules engagement (2020)

Closed Legislation Housing & Communities Justice & Rights
Alberta asked residents about rules for municipal and school board elections. The survey covered campaign lengths, donation limits, third-party advertising, and whether voters should be able to recall elected officials. Based on feedback, the government introduced Bill 29 to give candidates and advertisers more flexibility.

Why This Matters

Vote in municipal elections or for school trustees? These rules affect how candidates campaign in your community. The changes let donors support multiple candidates and give third-party groups more freedom to advertise during elections.

What Could Change

Bill 29 was introduced to amend the Local Authorities Election Act. Key changes include allowing donations to unlimited candidates, giving candidates more flexibility in campaigning, and loosening restrictions on third-party advertisers.

Key Issues

  • How long should the campaign period be for local elections?
  • Should there be limits on how many candidates a person can donate to?
  • What rules should govern third-party advertising during elections?
  • Should voters be able to recall municipally elected officials and school board trustees?

What Happened

The government received feedback through an online survey and meetings with municipalities, school boards, and third-party advertisers. After further analysis on nomination periods, campaign periods, campaign finance, third-party advertising, and recall, Bill 29 was introduced on June 24, 2020 to allow unlimited candidate donations, give candidates more campaigning flexibility, and loosen third-party advertising restrictions.

View Final Decision

Key Documents