UCP Accused of Ignoring Albertans on Daylight Time Referendum
Have referendums in Alberta become nothing more than expensive suggestion boxes? Just a few years ago, Albertans voted in a referendum on daylight saving time. Now, the United Conservative Party (UCP) government appears to be ignoring that result while budgeting $20 million on new referendums about immigration and constitutional issues.
If the UCP government intends to proceed regardless of public input, why are taxpayers being asked to pay millions for more consultation? At a time when many are struggling with the cost of living and facing pressures in health care and education, this spending is hard to justify.
The UCP should stop sending mixed signals: Either respect the results of past referendums or save Albertans the expense and just make the decisions you have already decided on.
Letters to the Editor
Nancy Siever, Westerose: Premier Smith, your self-declaration that daylight time will remain from this coming autumn forward smacks of authoritarianism. There will be a referendum on several topics this autumn. Please add one more for the electors to vote on: Do you want Alberta to remain on daylight time or standard time? I care not what time you arise in the morning. The electorate must make the decision. It is the democratic way for this decision to be decided.
Jim Holowchak, Edmonton: Danielle Smith is optimistic that young families and other people are going to enjoy the greater evening light if we stay on daylight time. Does she think that people will not mind the lesser morning light during our long winters? For three months, from mid-November to mid-February, the sun will not rise before 9 a.m. in the Edmonton area. Those young kids will be going to school in the dark for a long time. Living this far north, we still will have long summer evenings staying on standard time and for a few late-night golfers accommodated, there will be an entire Alberta ski industry disrupted. Yes, we should end the switch but the UCP needs to think about where we live and govern accordingly.
Harry Mackendrick, Edmonton: A recent article in your sister paper caught my attention recently, wherein our premier was revealing her government's intention to move ahead with legislation addressing daylight saving time. Her quote in the article was, 'I kind of like more sunlight at night, and I think most people do, too, because we are on daylight eight months out of the year.' While I do not begrudge the premier her right to hold an opinion or her thoughts on what most people do, given that five years ago the province thought it prudent to hold a referendum on the issue, I find myself wondering what happened to due process? More and more, I see this government making policy decisions that affect Albertans based on what appear to be cocktail party discussions, radio call-in comments or concerns voiced at UCP conventions. Once those thoughts turn into draft legislation, they quickly turn into law. Recent examples include banning the use of voting machines; changing referendum rules; and modifying physician obligations where end-of-life decisions are being made.
