Do Not Read This Blog! Unless You’re Worried About Democracy in LA.

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you this breaking discussion.

With the May 25 provincial protest of the UCP’s less-than-stellar performance just around the corner, I’d like to briefly shift gears from examining homelessness and housing to discussing democracy—or the significant challenge Bill 20 poses to democracy. 

A challenge that doesn’t appear to concern too many people in Lethbridge. 

Bill 20: Our Anti-Democratic Descent Into Authoritarianism

Of late, lots of ink has been spilled criticizing Bill 20, which seeks to upend our democratic process. 

The proposed law is “based on the politics of fear and anger, one that tries to impose even more unreasonable control over municipalities while denying avenues of recourse and resistance.”

Despite being the lynchpin of the wider United Conservative Party’s (UCP) assault on democracy, no local city councillors have publicly denounced it. Hoping to unpack its intricacies, Mayor Blaine Hyggen has read Bill 20 and highlighted many passages. 

In a nutshell, Bill 20 extends changes to municipal operations, modifies municipal campaign financing, and introduces municipal political parties in Calgary and Edmonton while empowering the provincial cabinet to strike down unsuitable local bylaws and remove elected council members where warranted.

To be blunt: Holy shit! The UCP is not messing around in its efforts to expedite wholesale social change!

Thankfully, the backlash to these proposed severe changes emerged from most corners of Alberta. Here’s just a taste: 

“This is not only an affront to municipalities, but also an affront to democracy in Alberta.” Paul McLauchlin, President of Rural Municipalities of Alberta

“Bill 20 is an attempt by the provincial government to grab more power and wield more control over how people choose to live in their own communities.” Tyler Gandam, President of Alberta Municipalities

“Across the board, no one wanted to see Bill 20.” Ben Fadeyiw, Councillor Bonnyville

“I’m actually surprised that a government … that takes pride in people staying in their lane, is coming in with such an authoritarian approach.” Amarjeet Sohi, Mayor of Edmonton

“Are we now in a world where elections can be bought by big money, and elections can be overturned by a cabinet that doesn’t like the results?” Jyoti Gondek, Mayor of Calgary

“ *sound of highlighter pen drawing on paper by candlelight* ” Blaine Hyggen, Mayor of Lethbridge

Bill 20 points us in the opposite direction charted by our self-described libertarian premier who embraces small government and a supposed desire to reduce red tape … a new direction underscored by authoritarian leanings. 

The Local Angle

I was reminded of my recent interactions with some of our local elected officials when discussing this issue with a colleague. Acknowledging their poor treatment, my colleague asked why I opposed implementing a bill that could improve the accountability of wayward mayors and council members. 

It’s a good question. Let’s review quickly.

Last year, Mayor Hyggen and some staff hectored me at a Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA) public talk. Councillor John Middleton-Hope tried to intimidate me at the same public, nonpartisan educational event. 

More recently, after presenting to the Governance Standing Policy Committee, Mayor Hyggen villainized me to the Lethbridge Herald, describing me as a keyboard warrior who jeopardized the city’s ability to attract and retain volunteers for essential committees.

Either way, the Punch and Judy show continued (in this instance, Chester and Spike works) when Councillor Middleton-Hope publicly labelled me a pseudointellectual. 

I submitted two separate complaint letters (here and here) itemizing my concerns and asking for an apology. This was a reasonable request, as the individuals’ behaviour violated city bylaws and norms of political decorum.

Not only has no apology been forthcoming, but I haven’t received a response telling me my letters arrived. I’ve heard from insiders that they did, but after that, … they were likely scrunched into May Two-Four fire starters before the drunken bull sessions condemning social justice warriors. 

Alas, free speech for thee but not for me (how very UCP).

Curbing Local (Mis)Behaviour

My colleague persisted. Couldn’t Bill 20 be a good thing, considering it would put those misbehaving individuals in the province’s crosshairs?

At the stroke of the Minister of Municipal Affairs’ pen, all involved could be relieved of their duties. Should these characters pass muster in the 2025 election? Nullify the results. 

From this perspective, Bill 20 could be helpful. Remember when two councillors openly suggested curtailing, if not outright denying, the individual Charter rights of those they deem wanting (what is citizenship, anyhow?).

Or when the mayor and council privileged some citizens over others through their selective interpretation of laws and bylaws? I’m referring to the “peaceful” anti-masking protestors storming and occupying Council Chambers, demanding to be heard … and who were then asked to stick around to chat.

Dissent celebrated! (i.e., border blockades, Axe The Tax-ers)

While others who followed proper protocols were publicly derided for their civic participation.

Dissent snuffed out! (i.e., recent university protests)

In this confusing atmosphere grounded by double-dealing, it should be no surprise that Take Back Alberta-types such as Benita Pedersen have entered the fray to visit and monitor city council meetings. They aim to generate a preferred slate of candidates to tip the next election in their favour. 

Ignoring all the Bill 20 ballyhoo is tempting, especially since some council members don’t believe the principles of accountability and transparency apply to them or that they’re bound by the same laws everybody else must follow and are simultaneously expected to uphold.

Attitudes like these smack of privilege and elitism. What’s that about serving the public? 

And don’t get me started on social media—one of the last publicly accessible and, in the right hands, practical tools for mobilized citizens demanding government accountability—something Mayor Hyggen and Councillor Middleton-Hope particularly disdain (see second last slide, top bullet point). 

I know you’re asking: Is it fair to equate local government attacks on those who demand accountability and transparency of elected officials with attacks on democracy?

Your call!  

Local Government = Stupid Good Lookings

My colleague’s arguments for Bill 20 and the evidence presented are compelling. 

That said, and reflecting on everything above, Bill 20 is an abomination!

Based on my reading of the more noteworthy social media and free press discussions, most folks are of like mind—they want it scrapped. Well, maybe not everyone, as we’re still awaiting our local elected official’s formal response.

Yet that’s the point: the Lethbridge mayor and council members are, to paraphrase Madam Yes, our stupid good-lookings, and the voters who elected this council to power must also hold them to account. 

It’s neither the premier’s job nor one to be tasked to sycophantic lackeys!

But how can we hold our City Council to account when it willfully ignores the taxpaying voters, you ask? The system has checks and balances for the moments when mayors and councils go rogue.

You can contact council members to demand accountability (the Leafs will win the Stanley Cup before this happens). You can contact the Ombudsman’s Office to launch an investigation. Or, as in my case, you may petition the Court of King’s Bench seeking legal remedy (something a benefactor has indicated they’d be willing to help me with). 

Still, that’s a lot of work—important work! Democracy is hard, important work!

Bob Woodward, the Washington Post’s distinguished investigative reporter, has argued that democracy dies in complacency. So, if you don’t like the local elected representatives, don’t whine to the province with the hopes that Madam Premier and her silent 48 will intervene.

Own it!

It’s a problem of our creation and one we can fix. It’s our job to get involved in jettisoning the dead weight. 

Don’t You Think You’re Getting A Little Hysterical? (somebody asked)

Hysterical? Really? I don’t think so, but thanks for mixing in an offensive, patriarchal, gendered insult.

Based on my reading of the majority analyses, the situation is urgent: Bill 20 could lead to the incremental dissolution of local government, thereby making future municipal elections pointless. 

It’s a worst-case scenario that can’t be overlooked: local governments don’t exist in Canada’s Constitution; altering and/or decommissioning municipal governments Alberta officials identify as “creatures of the province” is relatively easy (on paper, at least).

I doubt this will occur. Still, Bill 20 is subversive because it eases and encourages provincial intrusion into local government operations and decision-making.

Just reflect momentarily on recent changes that enabled the UCP to appoint its preferred nominees to local Police Commissions. This is already happening, and with Bill 20, it’s slated to intensify. 

The October 2025 election may be the last free municipal election with non-governmental interference in our local affairs. Think about that for a moment.

The Evident Tension

By now, you’ve likely noticed two interrelated albeit irreconcilable themes: (1) the provincial government should not be able to interfere with our local political operations except in the direst circumstances, and (2) our local council, in many ways, remains unaccountable to the voters, actions Bill 20 could help to remedy. 

With the UCP just waiting to get in on the action (being the libertarian, small-government operation it is), let’s review the Council’s greatest hits—the record many will run on in the next election.

• legally and morally questionable encampment removals
• mayor and councillors attacking private citizens
• ignoring the will of the voters and refusing to investigate a ward system 
• proposing to deny Charter rights for “selected” residents
• goading homeless people (the poor) to sue the city
• Exhibition Grounds financial debacle (City Council intervened and willingly adopted financial responsibility)
• resisting efforts to raise Clean Sweep stipendiary workers’ pay to the minimum wage
• summoning the Downtown Lawlessness Reduction Task Force vis-à-vis questionable rationale and the use (or ignorance of) bylaws … after a request to “study” fencing in Galt Gardens was trumped (temper tantrum, anyone?)
• needlessly antagonizing and alienating the volunteer/third-sector
• resisting by-law amendments that cost us $millions$ in federal homelessness funding.

Are these examples of poor governance? Yes! Is political malpractice evident? Affirmative! Do the proposals about abandoning individual constitutional protections appear overtly authoritarian? Absolutely! 

Should the UCP intervene? Nope! These are issues that we as a community must handle.

My Take/Final Word

Here, I will descend from my ivory tower, where I practice my pseudo-intellectual craft, to speak momentarily as a “community member” (you can be both, folks). 

Ready?

Absent substantial shifts in behaviours and significant political outcomes, I will not vote for Blaine Hyggen to serve another term as mayor or for John Middleton-Hope as councillor (or as mayor, as the rumour mill intimates).

Shocker, right? And I won’t vote for individuals Take Back Alberta endorses, who abuse public servants, or who try to strip individuals of their Charter rights. 

The same goes for provincial elections. Unhappy that your CPP is under threat? Or that a provincial police force most of us don’t want is on the table? What about health care being intentionally dismantled to privilege privatized models? Are you displeased with Alberta’s negligent response to opioid poisonings? Water contamination from coal mining? The refusal to effectively resource communities in advance of wildfire season?

Or … or … or … !

The story’s moral is this: if you’re unhappy with your government, work to vote ’em out.

But I’m just one vote, right? We all think that.

This blog has about 1,000 readers—that’s roughly 1,000 votes. I know there are more who feel the same way I do. 

As much as your vote matters, the work leading up to the vote is equally as important. If you’ve been watching, people are becoming active. My gut tells me they will remain so, meeting like-minded neighbours and, through collective civic mobilization, ensuring the subsequent appointment of an accountable, transparent, and responsive local government. 

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

I do hope it’s The Flintstones! You know, that historical era from which the UCP’s policies were derived.

PS – see you at City Hall on Saturday, May 25, 2—4 pm!

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Dr. Yale Belanger is a Professor of Political Science in the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Lethbridge. He is a member of the Royal Society of Canada, College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists. Dr. Belanger is a vocal proponent of improved First Nations (reserve) and urban Indigenous housing and the end of homelessness. In this capacity, he is a member of the Canadian Homelessness Research Network (CHRN) and the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness (COH), an editorial board member for the Australia Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI), and a former member of the Alberta Homelessness Research Consortium (AHRC).