PIA's Democracy Task Force has engaged in a thorough process of consultation to identify Albertans' top priorities for democratic reform.

The task force made extensive use of the deliberations of more than 150 participants the May 12, 2006 conference, “A More Democratic Alberta – How Do We Get There?” The conference was hosted by the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights and was supported by a wide range of organizations, reflecting the growing consensus around the need for democratic reform in our province.

In January of 2007, PIA’s task force released a major discussion paper, Democratic Renewal in Alberta. The paper consists of 81 proposals, grouped under nine general headings that reflect both the main features of Alberta’s democratic deficit and the key elements of necessary democratic reform and renewal.

The discussion paper was widely distributed, and was followed by a series of eight public forums in centres around the province during March of 2007, hosted by PIA and local partners. The forums  were collectively attended by more than 300 individuals, many of whom made thoughtful and insightful written comments and suggestions for action.

PIA’s task force then considered the full range of participants' reactions to the proposals in the discussion paper, along with suggestions for how to bring about the necessary changes. The result was a decision to concentrate on a priority list of recommended changes as the focus for advocacy during the following year.

In October 2007 PIA’s Board of Directors approved a recommendation for a campaign to focus on six key changes that would make the greatest difference for democratic reform and renewal in our province.

Premier Stelmach’s government has made some tentative steps in the right direction, including the creation of a registry for lobbyists and some changes to legislature committees. However, the actions are piecemeal, fall far short what is needed, and do not appear to be part of any broader effort at democratic reform and renewal.

What is needed in Alberta is a clear commitment to a systematic, comprehensive and long-term plan for remedying the problems and enhancing democracy in our province.

PIA is recommending that the following six changes be the focus for advocacy for the first important steps in that comprehensive reform and renewal:

1. Instituting  comprehensive reform of electoral and political party financing
2. Abolishing  the Public Affairs Bureau, and replacing it with a system that is more open and non-partisan
3. Initiating a Citizens’ Assembly to make recommendations on proportional representation
4. Strengthening  the role of the Legislature and MLAs by further increasing the power of and support for legislative committees and officers
5. Creating a high-profile Commission on Gender and Democracy to develop a comprehensive approach to achieving  gender equity in our political system
6. Requiring a more open, thorough and effective approach to public consultation on issues of public policy development 

Read more about PIA's democracy forums.