DEMOCRATIC REFORM

So much of what the CTF deals with – high taxes, debt, wasteful spending – is symptomatic of a much larger problem. That problem, simply put, is that our current political system fails to be accountable to the people who pay for it. For years – through commentaries, legislative presentations, reports, campaigns and conferences – the CTF has advanced the need to empower taxpayers through meaningful democratic reforms like citizen-initiated referendum, recall, whistleblower protection, embolden access to information laws and alternatives to our current voting system.

In 1991, we successfully pushed the Saskatchewan government for a province-wide referendum question on citizen-initiated referendum legislation which was supported by 80% of voters. In Alberta, we twice supported private members’ bills that came just short of passing. In British Columbia a provincial Recall and Initiative Act was passed – albeit with extremely high thresholds. It was nevertheless a start and a law that the CTF would later defend against a Charter challenge. Voter approval mechanisms for new or higher taxes were a central ingredient in taxpayer protection laws in both Manitoba and Ontario [see Taxpayer Protection Laws].

In B.C., the CTF played a leading role in the campaign for a province-wide referendum on adopting a new voting system. The province-wide referendum received 57% of the vote on May 17, 2005. Similar referendum questions fell short of the 60% threshold in Prince Edward Island 2005, Ontario 2007 and British Columbia 2009.

A scandal ridden federal government paved the way first, for proactive expense disclosure in 2004 followed by the Federal Accountability Act in 2006 which changed rules surrounding political party donations, lobbying, appointments, government contracts and advertising.

Protection is in place for whistleblowers and the power of the auditor general and comptroller general is enhanced. While the Act stopped short of access to information reforms, it was a big step in the right direction and one supported by the CTF which had been championing many of these changes for years.

Another long-time democratic reform priority of the CTF is to either abolish or reform the unelected, unaccountable Senate. In 2006, legislation came forward that requires appointments to the Senate to first be elected by voters in the provinces and second, limits their terms.

The legislation has since died on the Order Paper and been brought back time and time again. It has currently passed the House of Commons but is awaiting – with a twist of irony − Senate approval.

d the Saskatchewan government for a province-wide referendum question on citizen-initiated referendum legislation which was supported by 80% of voters. In Alberta, we twice supported private members’ bills that came just short of passing. In British Columbia a provincial Recall and Initiative Act was passed – albeit with extremely high thresholds. It was nevertheless a start and a law that the CTF would later defend against a Charter challenge. Voter approval mechanisms for new or higher taxes were a central ingredient in taxpayer protection laws in both Manitoba and Ontario [see Taxpayer Protection Laws].