Alberta proposing sweeping changes to election and referendum laws

The Alberta government is proposing sweeping changes that will limit what names can be used for new political parties, eliminate guardrails for citizen-initiated referendums, and strip the chief electoral officer of many of their powers.

The Justice Statutes Amendment Act, introduced Thursday, would help clear the way for a separation referendum question currently tied up in court and could prevent two former United Conservative Party MLAs from using the Progressive Conservative brand for a party they are hoping to create.