Alberta Premier Unable to Define Referendum Threshold, Says Albertans Will Recognise the Right Result When They See It
EDMONTON. Asked this week what threshold would make questions 1 through 9 on Alberta's referendum ballot count, the premier gave an answer that political scientists are already calling "a referendum on whether answers are required."
The ballot has nine questions. That is more questions than most Albertans have asked about their own mortgage. Voters will be invited to weigh in on a range of matters, with the province committing to treat the results with "the appropriate level of seriousness," a level to be determined after the results are in.
Observers note this is a refinement of traditional democracy. Under the old model, you set the rules and then counted the votes. Under the new model, you count the votes, then hold a short meeting about what the rules were.
A staffer in the premier's office, speaking on background, explained that a fixed threshold would be "very Ottawa" and that Albertans prefer to keep their options open, "like a pickup truck with the tailgate down."
Opposition members demanded a number. Any number. Fifty percent plus one, sixty percent, a majority of people who have personally been inconvenienced by the federal carbon tax. The government said it would consider all options, and that it favours a threshold "in the neighbourhood of meaningful."
Elections Alberta has quietly begun printing ballots. Under the instructions, in small grey type, is one more line: "Question 10: How many yeses would you like this to have taken? (Optional.)"