Ponoka's mayor sees problems with proposed legislation

Bill 20 would amend the Municipal Government Act and the Local Authorities Election Act

"This feels like a solution in search of a problem," said Mayor Kevin Ferguson when asked about Bill 20.  

"The big problem with Bill 20 from our council's point of view and then from all of the mayors that I've talked to is essentially this move towards declaring political parties. And that has got a lot of us really concerned."

Ferguson said council is here to advocate on behalf of the town's citizens. "So when you get into now having to declare political parties, we begin to wonder if we stop advocating on behalf of our citizens and then start maybe advocating on behalf of a party that we belong to and then we get into partisan politics."

Another amendment involves the prohibition of automated vote counting equipment. Ferguson said he doesn't see that change as a step forward. "It looks to me to be a step backwards."

"The other thing that happens as well is the cost. If we go to once again, paper ballots and having to employ people to count paper ballots we do incur a cost at a municipal level and I know maybe for a big city or for government, you know, whether it's a few thousand dollars that may not really seem like a whole lot but to a midsize town a few thousand dollars here and there, especially at budget time when we're trying to find every nickel and dime we can in the couch in order to not raise taxes, it does make a difference." 

Bill 20 is still being discussed. 

"I do know that there's probably enough consternation coming their way that we feel comfortable that in the debates that will happen between now and at the end of May, that we feel confident that there would be amendments coming."

The spring sitting of the legislature is expected to come to a close May 30th.