Why is Alberta holding another election for Senate Nominees?
How many Senate Nominees will be elected this time?
What happened to the nominees elected last time?
Why is Alberta holding another election for Senate Nominees?
- It is time to provide Alberta's Senate nominees with a new popular mandate.
- Alberta's two current senators in waiting were elected six year ago and legislation governing how nominee elections take place indicates that Senate nominees' terms expire after six years.
- One current nominee is planning to run in the next provincial election and must resign his position as a Senate nominee under the legislation (Alberta's Senatorial Selection Act).
- Recent surveys indicate Senate Reform is still supported by Albertans. Canada West Foundation survey data indicates that approximately 87% of people in the province agree that the there should be an equal, elected, and effective.
How many Senate Nominees will be elected this time?
- Alberta currently has three vacant seats in the Senate. Albertans will be electing people to fill those vacancies.
- Albertans will not be voting for different nominees in each constituency. There will be a common ballot across the province listing all candidates.
What happened to the nominees elected last time?
- The terms of the two current senators in waiting will end on Sept. 20, 2004. Alberta's Senatorial Selection Act stipulates a senator in waiting's term expires six years after he or she was elected.
- To ensure the province is not left without a list of senators in waiting, Alberta's two senators in waiting had their terms extended until the next general provincial election.
Who can run as a Senate Nominee?
- The Canadian Constitution says that a person appointed to the Senate must be thirty years old, be a resident of the province they represent, and own property worth $4,000 (above their debts).
- For more information contact Elections Alberta at (780) 427-7191 (toll free at 310-0000) or visit their web site. (new browser window)
- The election will follow the same rules as a general provincial election. Rules and requirements for general provincial elections are set in the Election Act and Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act.
- A candidate may run independently or be affiliated with a registered party. It is up to each political party to decide whether to field candidates for the Senate nominee election.
- For more information contact Elections Alberta at (780) 427-7191 (toll free at 310-0000) or visit their web site. (new browser window)
