DEMOCRATIC RENEWAL

2009 03 09

9603 96 Street
Edmonton, T6C3Z1

Honourable Ed Stelmach, Premier
Room 307, Legislature
10800 97 Avenue
Edmonton, T5K2B7

Dear Premier,

The members of the Seniors’ Action and Liaison Team are concerned about the state of democracy in our province. Among our concerns are our low voter turn out, the lack of women as MLAs when women are in the majority in our province and country, the reliance on private financing of our political parties which means that private interests too often trump the public good, and the increasing disparity between haves and have nots in Alberta. The dismissal of our chief electoral officer after making many recommendations for democratic reform is also a concern.

It is not our intention to lay blame for the problems we see. Rather, it is our hope with your emphasis on clarity and transparency in government that you might consider, and take responsibility for, an initiative that would be historic in Alberta.

We ask that you establish a commission for democratic renewal in Alberta similar to, but with a broader mandate than, the one which recommended changes to the governing system in British Columbia a few years ago.

The commission would be representative of Albertans and address all the issues for enhancing democracy in Alberta in the interests of the greatest good for the greatest number of our citizens while protecting and honouring the rights an responsibilities of all our minorities.

Sincerely,




Dr. Brian Staples, Chair of SALT, the Seniors’ Action and Liaison Team