So, You Might Be an Elected Lobbyist

After the recent United Conservative Party (UCP) AGM, there has been attention around policy Resolution 14 that recently passed on the conference floor. The policy resolution seeks to:

“Achieve perceived and real transparency associated with lobbying the Alberta provincial government by requiring disclosure as lobbyists from the following:

· members of a council or other statutory body charged with the administration of the civic or municipal affairs of a municipality, or individuals on the staff of any of those members; and

· officers or employees of municipalities.”

Alberta Counsel held a webinar last week discussing policy resolution 14 and what the passing of this resolution would mean to those affected. Many who reached out to Alberta Counsel felt this resolution would make the process of local governments connecting to provincial governments more onerous and cumbersome. They identified that this resolution would bring more red tape that would be especially challenging to smaller municipalities and place a barrier to those who seek to ensure that the province is aware of the needs of their communities.

For the constituency members of the Calgary-North West who introduced resolution 14 and to those who support it, the proposed changes would bring more transparency to residents on how their tax dollars are spent by their local government.

For those of you who don’t engage in party politics, you may be wondering: if the UCP passed the resolution at their AGM, isn’t it only a matter of time before the resolution becomes law as they are the party in power? It is important to make the distinction that, while UCP members passed this resolution, it is the government that passes legislation.

Members of the UCP run to become Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and because they are the party that was elected with a majority, their MLAs makeup the Alberta government caucus. Typically, from his/her party’s MLAs, the Premier selects members to join cabinet and those individuals form government. They will select and craft policy that will eventually be introduced legislation.

This prompts a further question. If it is the government who crafts the policy, why are there policies discussed and passed at the UCP AGM. Hearing from the grassroots is important for the elected members. The UCP values a bottom-up process and believes it is important that leadership listen to its membership and not just pass down their ideas. Political parties seek to engage their membership, and an important way to do that is to enact policies that their membership proposes. It is the membership that votes in who will be put forward to run for government. Their support is key.

Once legislation is introduced by the government, Albertans still have the chance to bring feedback to their local MLA and let their voice be heard if they support or oppose proposed new legislation. Each government is judged by the legislative agenda it puts forward and its performance. If Albertans are happy with the actions taken by government, they can vote them back in on election day. If they are unhappy, they can vote them out or exercise recall.

Passing a policy resolution at an AGM does not guarantee that policy will become provincial law. In some instances, a few individuals band together and raise support on an issue that does not reflect the views and values of the majority of the membership. Yet the resolution passes because the individuals behind it rallied the necessary support and had the votes needed in the right room at the right time to pass it.

Sometimes not converting a party policy into government policy is merely a matter of timing. Each government has only so much time to pass legislation before it is time to go back to the polls. Issues get triaged and the ones that don’t become law convert into topics of discussion for the next election or fade into the background.

For now, it is business as usual for municipalities connecting with the provincial government. For policy resolution 14 to come into effect, there would need to be a law crafted which would have to be passed as legislation and then receive royal assent. With the Legislature resuming sitting on November 29, it is very unlikely there will be time to have this policy introduced and passed into law in 2022.

In the meantime, continue to speak out and make sure your concerns are heard with your local MLA in addition to the Ministers of the Alberta government.

Thank you for the great questions we have received regarding this topic. Please continue to reach out on this and other important issues.