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# Frequently Asked Questions

## Common Questions About Bill 54 and Democratic Rights in Alberta

This page answers the most common questions we receive about Bill 54, the UCP's anti-democratic agenda, and how ordinary Albertans can fight back.

## About Bill 54

What exactly is Bill 54?
Bill 54 (the Election Statutes Amendment Act, 2025) is legislation passed by the UCP government that fundamentally changes how elections work in Alberta. It:

- Allows corporate and union donations up to $5,000 annually to political campaigns
- Eliminates voter vouching systems
- Bans electronic vote tabulators
- Allows political parties in municipal elections in Edmonton and Calgary
- Weakens the Chief Electoral Officer's investigative powers

When did Bill 54 become law?
Bill 54 received Royal Assent on May 15, 2025, making it law in Alberta.
Why is Bill 54 called anti-democratic?
The legislation makes it harder for ordinary Albertans to vote while making it easier for wealthy corporations to buy political influence. It centralizes power while weakening oversight—classic hallmarks of authoritarian governance.
Doesn't the bill also allow union donations?
While the bill technically allows both corporate and union donations with the same $5,000 aggregate limit, the practical effect is very different:

- Corporations can coordinate donations from multiple entities to maximize influence
- Unions represent workers' collective interests, not individual profit
- Union political activity remains subject to additional restrictions
- Corporate influence will far outweigh workers' collective voice

## About Corporate Donations

Why are corporate donations bad for democracy?
Corporate donations create a system where:

- Policy is shaped by those who can afford to buy influence
- Ordinary voters are drowned out by corporate money
- Politicians become accountable to donors rather than constituents
- Democratic equality becomes impossible when money determines political influence

What kinds of corporations will donate?
Expect major donations from:

- Oil and gas companies seeking favorable regulations
- Real estate developers wanting easier approvals
- Large retailers opposing minimum wage increases
- Financial institutions seeking deregulation
- Any business wanting government contracts or favorable treatment

How much money are we talking about?
Corporate political donations can easily reach:

- Hundreds of thousands from major corporations per election
- Millions collectively from entire industries
- Amounts that dwarf small individual donations from working families
- Enough money to fundamentally alter political competition

## About Voting Changes

What is "vouching" and why does it matter?
Vouching allowed eligible voters to vouch for other eligible voters who lacked proper ID. This helped:

- Indigenous peoples whose addresses might not match government records
- Students without current local ID
- Homeless people lacking fixed addresses
- Seniors with difficulty obtaining current ID
- Recent immigrants navigating bureaucratic processes

Why are electronic tabulators being banned?
The ban on electronic vote counting has no legitimate justification. Electronic tabulators:

- Increase accuracy by eliminating human counting errors
- Speed up results providing faster, more reliable reporting
- Save money by reducing staffing needs
- Maintain paper trails for audit purposes

The real purpose is to create doubt about election results and make voting more difficult.
Will these changes affect me personally?
The changes could affect you if:

- You're Indigenous and live on a reserve
- You're a student without local ID
- You've moved recently and your ID doesn't reflect your current address
- You're homeless or have unstable housing
- You're elderly and have difficulty maintaining current ID
- You care about election integrity and want accurate, efficient vote counting

## About Municipal Elections

Why is allowing political parties in municipal elections bad?
Municipal politics has traditionally been non-partisan because:

- Local issues (roads, water, garbage) don't follow party lines
- Community solutions work better than ideological positions
- Councillors can focus on neighborhoods rather than party discipline
- Decision-making can be collaborative rather than adversarial

How will this change my local election?
Expect to see:

- Candidates aligned with UCP or NDP rather than running independently
- Corporate money flowing into local campaigns
- Provincial politics imported into local issues
- Community consensus replaced by partisan division

What about small towns and rural areas?
Small communities will be particularly harmed:

- Local candidates must now choose provincial political sides
- Community issues become subject to party politics
- Traditional local leadership is undermined by partisan requirements
- Outside money influences local decisions

## About the Opposition

Who opposes Bill 54?
Opposition comes from across Alberta society:

- Indigenous Nations defending treaty rights and sovereignty
- Municipal leaders protecting local autonomy
- Labour organizations defending workers' political rights
- Civil liberties groups protecting democratic rights
- Environmental organizations opposing corporate capture
- The Chief Electoral Officer warning about harm to election integrity

What are Indigenous Nations saying?
Indigenous leaders have been clear that Bill 54 threatens:

- Treaty rights that cannot be subject to provincial referendums
- Indigenous sovereignty that predates provincial authority
- Federal obligations that provinces cannot override
- Constitutional protections that must be respected

What do municipalities say?
Municipal leaders oppose the legislation because it:

- Undermines local autonomy and community self-governance
- Forces partisan politics on traditionally non-partisan elections
- Increases election costs by banning efficient counting methods
- Opens local politics to corporate influence

## About Taking Action

What can I do as an individual?
You can:

- Contact your MLA and demand they oppose Bill 54's implementation
- Join organizations fighting for democratic rights
- Educate others about the legislation's harmful impacts
- Support candidates committed to reversing the legislation
- Volunteer for democratic advocacy organizations

Is it too late since the bill is already law?
No! There are many ways to continue fighting:

- Legal challenges in the courts
- Electoral action supporting candidates who will reverse the law
- Community organizing to minimize the harm
- Public education to build opposition for future action

How can I help with voter education?
You can:

- Share information about new voting requirements
- Help people understand how to meet ID requirements
- Volunteer with voter registration drives
- Support organizations doing voter education work

What organizations should I support?
Consider supporting:

- Alberta Federation of Labour (workers' rights)
- Indigenous political organizations (treaty rights)
- Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre (civil rights)
- Municipal associations (local democracy)
- Environmental groups (fighting corporate capture)

## About the Broader Context

Is this happening elsewhere?
Yes, similar attacks on democracy are occurring:

- United States: Voter suppression and unlimited corporate spending
- Other provinces: Various restrictions on democratic participation
- Internationally: Authoritarian movements using similar tactics

What's the connection to other UCP policies?
Bill 54 is part of a broader authoritarian pattern:

- Bill 20: Provincial control over municipalities
- Labour restrictions: Weakening unions and workers' rights
- Environmental suppression: Restricting activism and protest
- Healthcare privatization: Reducing public democratic control

What does this have to do with separation?
Bill 54 makes it easier to put separation questions on the ballot, which:

- Threatens Indigenous treaty rights with the federal Crown
- Creates uncertainty about federal constitutional protections
- Distracts from real issues like healthcare and cost of living
- Serves the UCP's political interests rather than Albertans' needs

## About Solutions

What would good democratic reform look like?
Real democratic reform would include:

- Public financing of campaigns to level the playing field
- Expanded voting access making it easier for all eligible voters
- Proportional representation ensuring all voices are heard
- Protected municipal autonomy from provincial interference
- Strengthened oversight of electoral processes

Can these changes be reversed?
Yes, but it requires:

- Electoral success by candidates committed to democratic reform
- Sustained organizing by civil society organizations
- Legal challenges to unconstitutional provisions
- Public pressure demanding better from government

What can we learn from other places?
Successful democratic reform elsewhere has included:

- Participatory budgeting giving communities control over spending
- Citizens' assemblies involving ordinary people in policy-making
- Proportional representation ensuring fair electoral outcomes
- Campaign finance reform reducing the influence of big money

## Getting Involved

I'm new to politics. Where do I start?
Start by:

- Learning about the issues through our resources
- Contacting your elected representatives
- Joining a local organization aligned with your values
- Attending community meetings and events

I don't have much time. What's the most important thing I can do?
If you only have time for one thing:

- Vote in every election and help others vote
- Share information about democratic issues with your networks
- Contact your MLA about specific concerns
- Support organizations doing democratic advocacy work

I want to do more. How can I get deeply involved?
For deeper involvement:

- Join the board or volunteer committee of a democratic organization
- Run for office yourself at any level
- Organize in your workplace, community, or social networks
- Donate regularly to organizations fighting for democracy

Don't see your question answered here? Contact us through our social media channels or community networks. We're always happy to provide more information about defending democracy in Alberta.