Momentum Toward a Public Inquiry is Growing
Dozens of academics issued an open letter to the people and Government of Alberta
A growing number of Albertans are calling for an independent public inquiry into the management and use of Alberta’s List of Electors.
Thirty-eight (38) academics from across the province joined me in publishing this open letter earlier this morning. I invite you to read and share it widely.
As we argue:
The integrity of the voters list must be beyond reproach. In a healthy democracy, Albertans have confidence that their personal information is protected. They have assurance that elections and referendums are conducted on a level playing field. They have institutions that are, and are seen to be, independent and trustworthy.
An independent public inquiry is the most effective way to restore those conditions.
As I argued earlier, police and Elections Alberta investigations are underway. They are necessary. But they are not enough.
Police investigations are narrow by design: they focus on whether specific laws were broken by specific actors. Elections Alberta’s investigation is also limited by legislation, mandate, and capacity — and it is being asked to investigate a situation involving a voters list it is responsible for managing and distributing.
Albertans need more than piecemeal, behind-closed-doors investigations. We need a public process capable of answering the broader democratic questions:
How did this happen?
Who had access to the data?
Was it copied, shared, downloaded, or used for political organizing?
What safeguards failed?
What laws need to change before Albertans are asked to vote again?
If you agree with our call for a national inquiry, here’s what you can do next:
Call your MLA. (Yes, it works!) Tell them Albertans deserve an independent public inquiry into the management and use of the voters list.
Then talk to at least six people in your network — friends, family members, neighbours, colleagues — and ask them to raise the same concern with their MLA and their peers. Don’t just forward them this email. Send a special note or text. Better yet, call or meet with them face-to-face.
A public inquiry will not happen unless Albertans demand it.
Our democracy depends on more than finding out whether someone broke the law. It depends on restoring public trust. And that requires public accountability.
Possibly, and I hope so. But remember, this is a government playing by the Trump playbook. What I also think is growing is an enormous distraction, like another massive, imaginary fight with Ottawa or BC.
Expecting this government to act with honour and integrity in dealing with this, where a judicial inquiry is likely to expose its mis/malfeasance, is unfortunately a pipe dream ☹️😳