To party or not?

Weighing the benefits and drawbacks of parties at the local level in Alberta.

In Alberta, the prospect of allowing political parties to contest local elections has drawn considerable consternation among local politicians. That the vast majority of Albertans also dislike the idea might have stopped other provincial governments. Not this one, however, as the UCP remains committed to allowing candidates to list their party affiliation on municipal ballots in Edmonton and Calgary.

The move would affect various aspects of governance, from how citizens engage with politics to the very nature of accountability and representation.

Here, I delve into some of the advantages and disadvantages of parties entering local politics in Alberta. I close with some thoughts on why you may dismiss some of these propositions based on what you expect from your local representatives. I also reiterate my call on the UCP government to consult widely and deeply on this law before passing it, especially given its unpopularity.

Advantages (the minority view)

Increased Engagement in Local Politics

The introduction of political parties at the local level could elevate political engagement. With more resources and the potential to provide clearer options and information, parties can help voters make more informed decisions. Their capacity for mobilization could lead to higher voter turnout. Beyond elections, parties can play a pivotal role in rallying local communities around shared goals, offering clear platforms and mandates for action.

Increased Resources for Local Matters

One of the compelling advantages of introducing parties at the local level is the potential access to broader resources. If the proposed legislation allows the linkage, local branches of provincial or national parties could tap into a vast pool of support, thereby enhancing their capacity to tackle local challenges. Furthermore, political parties could lead to more strategic and coordinated allocation of resources, aligned with policy priorities, potentially enhancing the effectiveness of local governance.

Enhanced Policy Capacity

Local party structures could consolidate policy expertise, providing local representatives with access to better advice than their own, small team can provide. By providing a unified approach to governance, parties might streamline policy implementation and ensure policy continuity, avoiding abrupt shifts with changes in who is elected as individuals. Moreover, having a centralized point of contact for stakeholders could simplify the engagement process.

Enhanced Representation

Political parties could improve democtatic accountability by establishing clearer lines of responsibility for elected officials. If a municipal council fails to deliver on its promises or adequately address new challenges, voters would have a means of interpreting which group of them might be most responsible; the same goes for attributing credit for success. Parties play also a critical role in recruitment and development of community leaders and could offer structured support for local representatives. Additionally, established parties foster a healthier democratic process through organized opposition and the facilitation of coalition building within the party, itself.

Disadvantages (the majority view)

Loss of Local Focus

The introduction of party politics at the local level might lead to an overemphasis on party goals over local needs, distorting policy priorities. It could dilute individual accountability and reduce the autonomy of local governments in addressing unique community issues. Moreover, local politics might become susceptible to influence from national or provincial party agendas or external interest groups with which they are aligned.

Factionalism

The potential for corruption, increased opportunities for patronage, and undermining public trust are significant concerns with the introduction of parties to local politics. Political parties might also contribute to polarization within communities and lead to factionalism within local governments, undermining cohesive governance. This shift could discourage non-partisan collaboration and raise barriers to entry for independent candidates, potentially decreasing the diversity in local governance and alienating voters disillusioned with party politics.

Poorer Quality Policies

The dominance of political parties might result in the homogenization of policies, stifling innovation and the adoption of locally tailored solutions. There's a risk that parties may focus excessively on electoral success rather than effective governance, leading to short-term policymaking instead of longer-term planning. Additionally, the bureaucratization that comes with party structures might slow down decision-making processes.

Representation

In the end, where you stand on the issue of parties moving into municipal politics might well come down to what type of representation you expect from your local politicians.

Some of us expect elected officials to serve as trustees of the public good. We send them to council to act as independent thinkers, contributing their own judgment to debates over the public good and how to achieve it. Sometimes that means compromising their own constituents’ interests in favour of the greater number.

Others want our local politicians to be delegates of their constituents’ interests. We want our councillor to stand up for our district when it comes to the distribution of resources and the shape of public policy outcomes, even if it comes at the expense of deadlock or the interests of citizens in other constituencies.

Advocates of the trustee and delegate models of representation are clearly in the majority and bristle at the thought of introducing parties into local politics. This is especially true among people who dislike the particular set of party options on offer at the provincial level today. Politicians as partisans put the party ahead of the broader community, ceding authority to the leadership rather than the people. Danielle Smith, herself, subscribes to this critique.

Champions of party politics note the many benefits associated with coordinated decisionmaking, collective accountability, and other advantages noted above.

In sum, the debate over parties in local politics is filled with contradictions. Many positive aspects are mirrored by negative ones, and opposite outcomes are plausible, at least in theory. Without seeing how various actors react to the specific set of reforms, it’s difficult to gauge whether the theoretical benefits will hold up once put into practice, or whether critics’ worst fears will come to fruition.

Fans of trustees and delegates are less likely to want to take the risk than die-hard partisans.

At the very least, the government of Alberta should hold meaningful consultations with local governments, experts, and Albertans before any legislation is finalized and passed.

This is particularly true given the unpopularity of their position and the fact they did not seek a mandate for these reforms in their 2023 election platform.