Alberta voters exercised their right in October 18, 2021’s Municipal Election across the province; to choose who would represent them in their municipality as well as vote for Senate candidates and in two referendum questions.
The official results of the Senate vote and the two referendum questions were released the following Tuesday October 26, 2021.
Daylight Saving Time
For the referendum question regarding Daylight Saving Time, the result came down to a narrow defeat of 5,092 votes.
50.2% of Albertan voters voted to stay at status quo; still changing our clocks twice a year and 49.8% voting to eliminate the need to change clocks and stay on permanent summer hours instead.
In our region for the Daylight Saving Time referendum:
- Peace River – 1,886 votes
- For – 847
- Against – 990
- High Level -439 votes
- For – 263
- Against – 169
- High Prairie – 693 voters
- For – 360
- Against – 314
- Fairview -428 votes
- For – 200
- Against – 228
- Grimshaw – 392 voters
- For – 178
- Against – 213
- Falher – 201 voters
- For – 128
- Against – 68
- McLennan – 220 voters
- For – 113
- Against – 106
- Manning – 265 voters
- For – 126
- Against – 133
- Valleyview – 447 voters
- For – 238
- Against – 194
The province says they will respect the decision of voters and no longer pursue the question of changing Alberta’s time.
Equalization Payments
61.7% of 1,092,639 Albertan voters are for removing equalization payments from the Constitution.
Premier Jason Kenney says with the outcome of the referendum vote “Albertans are demanding a fair deal in Canadian federation.”
In terms of voting “for” or “against” cancelling equalization payments in our region:
- Peace River – 1,886 votes
- For – 1,144
- Against – 628
- High Level -439 votes
- For – 289
- Against – 132
- High Prairie – 693 voters
- For – 424
- Against – 215
- Fairview -428 votes
- For – 332
- Against – 90
- Grimshaw – 386 voters
- For – 279
- Against – 106
- Falher – 201 voters
- For – 155
- Against – 41
- McLennan – 220 voters
- For – 134
- Against – 72
- Manning – 265 voters
- For – 189
- Against – 67
- Valleyview – 447 voters
- For – 315
- Against – 116
Kenney gave examples of other provinces benefiting from equalization payments; “Albertans contribute typically $20 billion a year, the Government of Quebec receiving $13 billion a year in equalization payments while expressing a political veto over oil and gas pipelines and refusing to develop its own resources.”
Senate Vote
As of June 23, 2021, there were two vacancies in the Senate for Alberta, and the Order in Council and Writ of Election was issued.
Albertans could pick up to three candidates in the Senate election on October 18, 2021.
1,118,828 Albertans voted between 13 candidates and the three declared elected Senate members are:
- CPC – Pam Davidson – 18.2%
- CPC – Erika Barootes – 17.1%
- CPC – Mykhailo Martyniouk – 11.3%
This was the fourth election for Alberta Senate nominees and five elected nominees have been appointed by previous Prime Ministers to serve in the upper chambers of Canada.
Jason Kenney put forward a motion in the Alberta Legislature calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “to respect the basic principle of democracy and to fill those two seats with Senate nominees selected by Albertans” following the results of the Senate vote.
To view results from every municipality in Alberta for the referendums and Senate vote, click here.
-Erika Rolling, Trending 55 Newsroom
