Lisa Johnson - 12h ago
Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.© Greg Southam
In an interview with Postmedia columnist Rick Bell published Wednesday, Smith said she’s been lobbied on the issue in both Calgary and Edmonton.
“It may be something that makes sense for big cities rather than small municipalities, but there seems to be an appetite for it in Calgary and Edmonton,” she said, adding she will be asking her cabinet ministers to consult on the issue.
In a statement to Postmedia, Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said he hasn’t heard anything about the idea from the premier or the UCP government, but he believes the current system works well.
“At a time when we are seeing so much political polarization across the country, keeping municipal councils not affiliated to any political party is the best approach,” he said.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Edmonton Ward O-day’min Coun. Anne Stevenson acknowledged such a system could simplify things for voters, and help provide support for those who face barriers to entering politics.
However, Stevenson said at the municipal governance level, she doesn’t think it’s helpful.
“I really value the non-partisan nature of municipal politics and that’s something that I’d want to see continue in Alberta,” she said.
Related video: Alberta Premier Danielle Smith debuts new cabinetDuration 2:06
NDP Leader Rachel Notley said at an unrelated news conference Wednesday in Medicine Hat the province shouldn’t be imposing such a system on any municipality.
“That is a matter for the community, the voters and the candidates to decide,” said Notley.
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Premier Smith defends expanded cabinet, axing of labour, status of women and housing ministries
It isn’t common in Canada to run under party banners in municipal elections, but there are examples , including in Vancouver, where the A Better City slate won a commanding election victory this month.
University of Calgary political scientist Jack Lucas, who focuses on municipal politics, told Postmedia there’s nothing legally preventing candidates from running under a specific conservative or progressive banner, and there have already been examples of partisan competitions in Edmonton and Calgary elections.
“There’s a lot of evidence that candidates run, and think of themselves as running, in a particular part of the ideological spectrum,” said Lucas.
Lucas said party labels provide valuable information to voters, but they can have a downside.
“When you have political parties in the mix, it’s hard to deny that even issues that seem like they wouldn’t necessarily divide people along left-right lines, or other lines, they tend to become a matter of partisan bickering anyway,” he said.
— With files from Lauren Boothby and Keith Gerein
lijohnson@postmedia.com
Premier Smith defends expanded cabinet, axing of labour, status of women and housing ministries
It isn’t common in Canada to run under party banners in municipal elections, but there are examples , including in Vancouver, where the A Better City slate won a commanding election victory this month.
University of Calgary political scientist Jack Lucas, who focuses on municipal politics, told Postmedia there’s nothing legally preventing candidates from running under a specific conservative or progressive banner, and there have already been examples of partisan competitions in Edmonton and Calgary elections.
“There’s a lot of evidence that candidates run, and think of themselves as running, in a particular part of the ideological spectrum,” said Lucas.
Lucas said party labels provide valuable information to voters, but they can have a downside.
“When you have political parties in the mix, it’s hard to deny that even issues that seem like they wouldn’t necessarily divide people along left-right lines, or other lines, they tend to become a matter of partisan bickering anyway,” he said.
— With files from Lauren Boothby and Keith Gerein
lijohnson@postmedia.com
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