ALBERTA SOCIAL CREDIT PARTY

6. Government

6.1 Representative Democracy: The Alberta Social Credit Party supports representative democracy.

6.2 Free Votes: The Alberta Social Credit Government would institute free votes in the Legislature for MLA's. MLA's would vote according to their conscience or as indicated by the constituents through the constituency organization. Should a government bill be defeated, it would not mean a vote of non-confidence for the government but simply a defeat of that particular piece of legislation. The Alberta Social Credit Party supports free votes within the Social Credit caucus. The party position would be determined by a simple majority of the MLA's casting a vote.

6.3 Recall of MLA: The Alberta Social Credit Government would institute the right of recall of all elected officials by their constituents.

6.4 Fixed Election Dates: The Alberta Social Credit Government would institute fixed election dates for all elected officials in Alberta. MLA's would be elected for a four (4) year term. The right of the Legislature to call a vote of non-confidence in the government would still be in force.

6.5 Fixed Dates for Sessions: The Alberta Social Credit Government would institute a program whereby Throne Speeches, Budget Announcements and Legislative dates would be on a set date each year.

6.6 Cabinet Size: The Alberta Social Credit Government would reduce the size of the Provincial Cabinet.

6.7 Open Employment Applications: The Alberta Social Credit Party would institute an open application process to fill all government positions and all hiring would be based upon qualifications and merit rather than patronage.

6.8 Inter-Provincial Conference on Co-operation: The ASC Government would endorse a conference attended by all provinces and territories to discuss equalizing benefits, responsibilities and representation for a "New Terms of Reference" of co-operation and association in Canada.

6.9 Establishing Provincial Senate: The Social Credit government create and develop a tri-cameral systems consisting of; a Lieutenant Governor, a Provincial Legislature, and the creation of a Provincial Senate. The Provincial Senate having equivalent powers to that of the Federal Senate.

6.10 Election of Commissions and Boards: The Alberta Social Credit Government would institute elections for all provincial boards and commissions every four years in conjunction with provincial legislative elections.

6.11 Conflict Of Interest: The Alberta Social Credit Government would institute strict conflict of interest guidelines facilitated through the Provincial Ethics Commissioner's office.

6.12 Constitutional Reform: The Alberta Social Credit Party supports popular ratification of all Constitutional Amendments by a simple majority vote in at least 2/3 of all the provinces (including the Territories) and representing at least 50% of the country's population in a national referendum.

6.13 Provincial Equality in Constitutional Matters: The Alberta Social Credit Party rejects the concept of unilateral negotiations between the Government of Canada and Quebec in constitutional matters. All provinces must be equal and active participants in all constitutional negotiations.

6.14 Charter of Rights and Equality: Social Credit opposes an interpretation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that entrenches any recognizable group with distinct or unique status" thus granting special privileges and exceptional rights not available to other Canadians. Equality before the law is essential to a just democracy and cannot be compromised.

6.15 Re-establishment of Provincial Powers: The Alberta Social Credit Party will assert Alberta's constitutional powers by collecting its own revenues for taxation, creating an Alberta Pension Plan, taking provincial responsibility for health care policy, and re-establishing a provincial police force.

6.16 Alberta Constitution: The Social Credit Party supports the creation of an Alberta Constitution that would include individual property rights and protection from unconstitutional intrusion from the Federal Government.

6.17 Freedom Of Information: The Alberta Social Credit Government would institute the most comprehensive Freedom of Information Act in Canada which would open government dealings to all people.

6.18 Mandatory Tendering:
The Alberta Social Credit Government would institute a procurement policy whereby all major purchases by the government would be through an open tender process.

6.19 M.L.A. Salaries: The Alberta Social Credit Government would institute a reduction in the salaries of Cabinet Ministers and the Premier. The Alberta Social Credit Government would remove all tax-free allowances to MLA's.

6.19.1 M.L.A. and Government Executive salaries: The Social Credit Government would implement wage control on salaries and bonuses so that they will not increase beyond 50% of the rate of the Alberta Provincial annual inflation rate. A revaluation of salaries will be undertaken based on national averages prior to the removal of tax-free allowances.

6.20 Municipal Government: The Alberta Social Credit Party supports continued dialogue and co-operation between the province and municipalities.

The Alberta Social Credit Party supports the assignment of government functions to that level of government most appropriate to the situation; therefore, an Alberta Social Credit Government would empower municipal governments with full local authority.

The Social Credit Party would not interfere with Edmonton and Calgary to maintain control over their respective utility companies.

6.21 Free Enterprise Levels: The Alberta Social Credit Party endorses the concept of Free Enterprise and thereby recognizes the value and need of all forms of enterprise, including Private, Public (or Crown), Publicly traded and Co-operative Enterprise (or Team Enterprise).

6.22 Referenda: The Social Credit Government would strip the power from the few and put it where it belongs, with the many. A system will be established where the most important issues of the day will be decided by the electors in an annual binding referendum.
All resolutions or issues that suggest or require a referendum from Albertans must undergo the same process as all other referendum questions, including the gathering of signatures.

6.23 Senate Reform: The Alberta Social Credit Party endorses the concept of a "Triple E" Senate with effective parliamentary powers that is elected by the people of each province with equal representation from each province.

6.24 Vote of Non-Confidence: The Alberta Social Credit Government would allow for the defeat of a government through a proclaimed vote of non-confidence in the Legislature and not through the mere defeat of a bill.

6.25 Proportional Representation: The Alberta Social Credit Government endorses an electoral system where the percentage of the popular vote determines the percentage of seats held in the legislature.

6.26 Term Limit: The Social Credit Government would establish an electoral restriction where the Premier can serve a maximum of (2) two terms.

7. Environment