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2009 Jun 15 (Mon)

Returning Officer Appointments Day 1

Kevin Taft raises concerns about the method used to fill the positions of Election Day Officials

 

February 17, 2009 Alberta Hansard

Returning Officer Appointments

 

Dr. Taft: Thanks, Mr. Speaker. This past Friday in testimony to the Legislative Offices Committee the Chief Electoral Officer painted a disturbing picture – and I urge everybody to read the Hansard – of the run-up to the last election. He testified that he asked the government for a list of returning officers but was ignored for months. When he finally did get a response, it wasn't from the Premier or a minister but a political operative from the Progressive Conservative Party. My question is to the Premier. Why did the

government hand off the selection of returning officers to a PC Party

official?

 

Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, first of all, for that hon. member to ask the question in the House – I thought he was the one that was going to send the Chief Electoral Officer to be reviewed by the Auditor General because he was all upset with the operation of the Chief Electoral Officer. So kind of ironical.

Anyway, when this issue came up about appointing returning officers, even though the Chief Electoral Officer is an officer of the Legislature, not of the Premier's office or anybody here – he's an officer of the Legislature – I said: if the Chief Electoral Officer wants to appoint returning officers, go ahead; please take that responsibility. I said that not once but twice. He still hasn't – I don't know – picked up on it, but I guess it's an issue for him.

 

The Speaker: The hon. member.

 

Dr. Taft: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again to the Premier: will the Premier, then, make an irrevocable commitment in this Legislature today, now, to change the legislation so that the appointment of returning officers is in legislation, put directly and solely in the hands of the Chief Electoral Officer? Will you make that commitment here and now?

 

Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, as I said, the Chief Electoral Officer is an officer of the Legislative Assembly, and all of the recommendations that come forward from the Chief Electoral Officer through the legislative reporting process will come forward to government. We'll scrutinize every one because they are important, because we constantly want to improve democracy in the province of Alberta. We'll take all of the suggestions that come forward, scrutinize them. If it requires legislation, it comes here to the floor of the Assembly at the most appropriate time.

 

The Speaker: The hon. member.

 

Dr. Taft: Well, thanks, Mr. Speaker. I hope everyone noted the Premier did not stick to his commitment. My last question is again to the Premier. Given that a PC member, who left Friday's meeting early, stated unequivocally that

the Chief Electoral Officer's contract would not be renewed, has the government directed its members to terminate the Chief Electoral Officer's job because he spoke out about the role of the PC Party in appointing returning officers?

 

Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, again, I don't make the decision on the employment of the Chief Electoral Officer. He has a contract. That contract was agreed to by the Legislative Offices Committee of this Assembly. He's responsible and answers to the Legislative Offices Committee. Both sides of the House nominate members to that committee; they make that decision.

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands

 

Date: Mon Jun 15 14:52:56 MDT 2009 changed by: Rebecca IP: 199.213.91.1