local & provincial Government

3 Levels of Government

Local (Municipal) - Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer
Provincial - Alberta
Federal - Canada

Municipal Government

Provincial Government

Active Citizenship

Municipal government

Created by provincial governments to manage local issues and services.

electoral process

Who can run: Candidates must be 18+ years old, a Canadian citizen, and a resident of the local area.
Voter Requirements: You must be 18, a Canadian citizen, and live in the municipality on election day.
Election Cycle: Local elections in Alberta happen every 4 years (usually in October).
The Vote: It is a secret ballot. Voters choose one person for Mayor/Reeve and one person for their specific Ward (area) to be a Councilor.
No Political Parties: Unlike provincial or federal elections, local candidates usually run as individuals, not as part of a party like the NDP or UCP.

Responsibilities of government officials

Local governments provide the "everyday" services we rely on:

Bylaws: Local laws created to keep the community safe and tidy (e.g., noise complaints, snow removal, pet leashes).
Taxes (Property Tax): This is how the government gets money. People who own homes or businesses pay a yearly fee to the city/town.
Services:
- - Emergency: Firefighters and Police.
  - Infrastructure: Fixing roads, streetlights, and clearing snow.
  - Health/Rec: Garbage collection, libraries, parks, and pools.
  - Water: Making sure clean water comes out of your taps.

citizens can:

Attend meetings.
Sign petitions.
Contact representatives.
Run for office.

urban vs. rural

While they do similar work, they are organized differently based on where people live:

The Role of School Boards

School boards are a special type of local government that only focuses on education.

Trustees: The people elected to run the school board.
Main Job: They make sure the provincial curriculum is taught, hire teachers, and decide how the school budget is spent.
Types of Boards in Alberta:
- - Public: Open to everyone.
  - Separate: Often Catholic, for students of a specific faith.
  - Francophone: For students whose first language is French.
Why they matter: They ensure that the specific needs and values of the local community are reflected in their schools.

provincial government

3 branches of provincial government

Executive: The "bosses" who run the province. Includes the Premier, Cabinet Ministers, and Lieutenant Governor
Legislative: Includes all 87 elected MLAs. They meet in the Legislature Building in Edmonton to debate and vote on bills (proposed laws).
Judicial: The courts and judges who interpret the laws and make sure they are followed fairly.

the lieutenant governor (lg)

Status: The formal representative of the Monarch (The King) in Alberta.
The Role: They are "above" politics and do not take sides.
Key Duties:
- - Grants Royal Assent: Signs bills after they are passed by the MLAs to officially make them laws.
  - Opens and closes sessions of the Legislature.
  - Reads the Speech from the Throne, which outlines the government's plans.
Our current lieutenant governor is Salma Lakhani.

responsibilities

The province is responsible for things that affect everyone in Alberta:

Laws: Making provincial laws (e.g., traffic safety, natural resources).
Taxes: Collecting Provincial Income Tax and corporate taxes to pay for services.
Services:
- - Health Care: Running hospitals and paying doctors.
  - Education: Deciding the curriculum (what you learn in school!).
  - Energy: Managing Alberta’s oil, gas, and electricity.
  - Transportation: Building and fixing major highways.

how a bill becomes a law

First Reading

An MLA or Cabinet Minister introduces the bill to the Legislative Assembly.
They explain the bill's title and what it is generally about.
There is usually no debate yet; the MLAs simply vote to allow the bill to be printed and shared so everyone can read it.

2. Second Reading

This is the most important step for discussion. MLAs from all parties talk about the principles of the bill (whether it is a good or bad idea for Alberta).
If the majority of MLAs vote "Yes," the bill moves to the next stage.

3. Committee of the Whole

The entire Assembly acts as a committee to look at the bill line-by-line.
This is where MLAs can suggest changes (amendments) to specific parts of the bill to make it better or fix problems.

4. Third Reading

MLAs look at the final version of the bill (including any changes made in the last step).
They debate one last time and take a final vote. If it passes here, the bill has finished its journey through the Legislative Assembly.

5. Royal Assent

The bill is taken to the Lieutenant Governor. Since the Lieutenant Governor represents the Monarch, they sign the bill on the King’s behalf.
Once it receives Royal Assent, the bill officially becomes an Act (a law) in Alberta.

election process

Who & Where?

Constituencies: Alberta is divided into 87 areas called constituencies (or ridings).
- The Goal: Each constituency wants to elect one person to represent them in Edmonton.
- The Timeline: Provincial elections happen every 4 years (usually on the last Monday in May).

The Candidates & Parties:

Candidates: People who run for office. Most belong to a Political Party (a group with similar ideas on how to run the province).
The Platform: This is the "to-do list" or set of promises a party makes to voters (e.g., "We will build more schools").
MLAs: The winner in each area becomes a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).

How Voting Works:

Eligibility: To vote, you must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old, and live in Alberta.
The Ballot: A piece of paper listing the candidates. Voters mark an 'X' next to only one name.
Secret Ballot: No one is allowed to see who you voted for! You go behind a screen to keep it private.
First Past the Post: The candidate with the most votes in their area wins. They don't need more than half; they just need more than anyone else!

Forming the Government:

Winning Party: The political party that wins the most seats (elects the most MLAs) across the province gets to form the government.
The Premier: The leader of that winning party becomes the Premier of Alberta (the head of the provincial government).
The Opposition: The party with the second-most seats becomes the Official Opposition. Their job is to ask tough questions and keep the government accountable.

mla vs. cabinet minister

Every Cabinet Minister is an MLA, but not every MLA is a Cabinet Minister!

MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly): Represents the people in their home riding. They listen to voters' concerns, attend community events, and vote on bills in Edmonton.
Cabinet Minister: An MLA chosen by the Premier to be "in charge" of a specific Ministry or department (e.g., Minister of Education, Minister of Health). They help make the big decisions for the whole province.

Think of an MLA like a class representative who speaks for their classmates, while a Cabinet Minister is like the head of a specific club (like Drama or Sports) who has to manage all the equipment and rules for that specific group!

Active Citizenship

How people participate in government

You don't have to wait until you are 18 to have an impact! People use these methods to influence government:

Lobbying: Meeting with government officials to persuade them to support a specific cause.
Petitioning: Collecting signatures from many people to show the government that a large group wants a specific change.
Organizing Rallies/Meetings: Holding public events to raise awareness and show "people power" for an issue (like climate change or school funding).
Contacting Representatives: Writing letters, emails, or making phone calls to your MLA or City Councilor.
Providing Feedback: Attending "Town Hall" meetings or filling out government surveys.

Associations & Rights (a voice for many!)

Some groups in Alberta have specific historical and constitutional rights. These organizations help protect those rights and give their members a stronger voice:

ACFA (Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta):
- - Represents Alberta's Francophones (French speakers).
  - Protects French language rights in schools and services.
MNA (Métis Nation of Alberta):
- - Represents Métis people.
  - Advocates for Métis self-governance, land rights, and cultural preservation.
First Nations Authorities (FNA):
- - Represent First Nations communities.
  - Focus on Treaty rights, education, and managing their own local communities and resources.

accountability (How leaders stay honest)

Elected officials have a job to do, and they must show voters (the electorate) that they are doing it well:

Responding to Constituents: Answering emails or phone calls from the people who live in their area.
Attending Local Events: Showing up at pancake breakfasts, school openings, or community festivals to talk to people face-to-face.
Representing Concerns: Speaking up in the Legislative Assembly or City Council to share what their neighbors are worried about.
The "Next Election": The ultimate form of accountability—if voters don't think an official did a good job, they can vote for someone else next time!

Accountability means being responsible for your actions.

If an MLA makes a promise and breaks it, they are "accountable" to the voters who can choose not to re-elect them.

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