Foundation for Democratic Advancement Public Forum

Foundation for Democratic AdvancementNon-partisan, non-profit organization which advanced fair and transparent democratic processeswherever elections occur

About the FDA FDA’s Mission Statement:

The Foundation for Democratic Advancement (FDA) is a non-partisan and independent democracy reform and advocacy organization. The FDA's reforms center on increasing the voice of the people from constituencies. The FDA members embrace the following principles: progress, innovation, objectivity, and transparency. The mission of the FDA is to advance democratic processes all over the world in terms of transparency and fairness, thereby bringing the voice of the people to the forefront of democratic discourse.

About the Foundation for Democratic Advancement (FDA) The FDA Supports:

1. No electoral contributions by corporations and trade unions.

2. Caps on electoral contributions which are reflective of mean total income.

3. Campaign expenditure limits which are reasonably attainable by candidates and parties.

4. Public subsidies which support an equal playing field for candidates and parties.

5. No third party spending by corporations and trade unions.

6. Caps on third party spending which are reflective of mean total income.

7. Effective legislative process including reasonable fines on individuals, candidates, parties, and corporations and trade unions for electoral wrongdoing.

2012 FDA Alberta Project Results

Electoral ResultsFDA Grade Scale Score Range 2012 Alberta’s Score

A +Exceptional democratic processand reasonably attainable

85% to 100%100% maximum score

N/A

A Outstanding democratic process

80% to 84.99% N/A

B+ Very good democratic process

75% to 79.99% N/A

B Acceptable democratic process

70% to 74.99% N/A

D to C+Unacceptable democratic process (many deficiencies and/or major deficiencies in electoral legislation)

50% to 69.99% 54%

F Unacceptable, failed democratic process

0% to 49.99%0% minimum score.

N/A

Foundation for Democratic Advancement (2012)

Overall Audit Results1. Albertan laws on electoral

finance: a) 55 percent

2. Albertan laws on the political content of media: 

a) 45 percent

3. Albertan laws on candidate and party influence: 

a) 51 percent

4. Albertan laws on voter influence:  a) 65 percent

5. Total score: a) 54 percent

Electoral Fairness

54%Electoral

Unfairness46%

Overall

2012 FDA Electoral Fairness Audit of Canada’s Ten Provinces Finance Laws Overall Results:

1. Québec (100 percent)2. Manitoba (85.1 percent)3. Nova Scotia (77.4 percent)4. New Brunswick (72.1 percent)5. Ontario (66.3 percent)6. Newfoundland and Labrador (51.3 percent)7. British Columbia (49.1 percent)8. Saskatchewan (49 percent)9. Prince Edward Island (48.4 percent)10.Alberta (47.7 percent)

Provinces Finance Transparency

No Corps and UnionsContributions

Low Caps onContributions

Caps onCampaign Expenditure

PublicSubsidies create equal playing field

Low Capson ThirdPartyExpenditures

Alberta47.7%

*

British Columbia49.1%

*

Manitoba85.1%

* * * * *

Newfoundland and Labrador51.3%

* *

New Brunswick72.1%

* * * *

Nova Scotia77.4%

* * * *

Ontario66.3

* *

Prince Edward Island48.4%

* *

Québec100%

* * * * * *

Saskatchewan49%

* *

The table captures the main variances in the provinces' electoral finances legislation (Foundation for Democratic Advancement, 2012).

Electoral Finance Results

The pie chart captures the provincial electoral finance grade scores based on percentage of Canada's population (Foundation for Democratic Advancement, 2012).

The map shows the geographic distribution of electoral finance scores. Note the three westernmost provinces are all in the failing zone for fairness in their electoral finance legislation. This map is strictly a geographic illustration, and it is not meant to indicate how much populations are affected by the electoral finance scores (Foundation for Democratic Advancement, 2012).

Electoral Finance ResultsFDA Scoring Scales Score Range 2012 Scores

A +

Exceptional democratic process and reasonably attainable

85% to 100%

100% maximum score

Québec: 100%Manitoba 85.1%

A

Outstanding democratic process

80% to 84.99% n/a

B+

Very good democratic process

75% to 79.99% Nova Scotia 77.4%

B

Acceptable democratic process

70% to 74.99% New Brunswick 72.1%

D to C+

Unacceptable democratic process (many deficiencies and/or major deficiencies in

the electoral legislation)

50% to 69.99% Ontario 66.3%Newfoundland and Labrador 51.3%

F

Unacceptable, failed democratic process

0% to 49.99%

0% minimum score

British Columbia 49.1%

Saskatchewan 49%

Prince Edward Island 48.4%

Alberta 47.7%

Foundation for Democratic Advancement (2012)

Notable Facts about the 2012 Platforms of the Nine Political PartiesAlberta Party:The Alberta Party and the Alberta NDP are the

only 2012 parties to propose limits on campaign expenditures.

Alberta Liberal PartyIn 2012, the Alberta Liberal Party has dropped

a citizen's assembly on electoral reform and reform of electoral finance laws, and it has added free votes for MLAs, restructure of aspects of the Alberta legislature, recall elections, instant run-off elections, and increased government transparency.

Notable Facts about the 2012 Platforms of the Nine Political PartiesAlberta NDPThe Alberta NDP is the only Alberta party (in both 2008

and 2012) to ban corporations and trade unions from making electoral contributions. In addition, the Alberta NDP and Alberta Party are the only parties to limit campaign expenditures. The limit on campaign expenditures is a new 2012 policy of the Alberta NDP. The 2008 policy of disclosure of leadership contests and contribution limits on federal parties are now part of Alberta law, and consequently the Alberta party has dropped that policy in 2012. Further, unlike in 2008, the Alberta NDP now supports proportional representation and no Alberta Senate.

Notable Facts about the 2012 Platforms of the Nine Political PartiesAlberta Social CreditThe Alberta Social Credits have the same

democracy reform platforms in 2012 as in 2008. The Alberta Social Credits have extensive reform of the legislative processes, and some reform of the Alberta Election Act, through adoption of proportional representation, and citizen recall and referendum initiatives.

Communist Party—AlbertaThe Communist Party-Alberta is only Alberta

party that supports public subsidies for political parties.

Notable Facts about the 2012 Platforms of the Nine Political PartiesEverGreen Party of AlbertaThe EverGreen Party is the only party to

support seats on committees based on popular support. (The FDA supports this policy in its 2012 Alberta Electoral Report.) In addition, the EverGreen Party is one of five Alberta parties to support proportional representation. In 2008, EverGreen Party supported right of recall, and in 2012, its platform does not mentioned right of recall. In both 2008 and 2012, the EverGreen Party supports fixed election dates.  

Notable Facts about the 2012 Platforms of the Nine Political PartiesPC Party of AlbertaThe PC Party of Alberta is the only Alberta

party in 2008 and 2012 to have no policy on Alberta democracy reform.

Separation Party of AlbertaThe Separation of Alberta has the same

democracy reform platform in 2008 as 2012. The Separation Party of Alberta is one of five Alberta parties that support proportional representation.

Notable Facts about the 2012 Platforms of the Nine Political PartiesWildrose Alliance Party of AlbertaIn 2008, the Wildrose Alliance Party supported

a citizen's assembly on proportional representation, and now in 2012, the Wildrose Alliance does not support a citizen's assembly on proportional representation. In 2008, the Wildrose Alliance Party supported a maximum two year terms for the premier, and now in 2012, the Wildrose Alliance has dropped that policy. In 2012, the Wildrose Alliance Party has added free legislative votes to its democracy reform platform.

Notable Facts about the 2012 Platforms of the Nine Political Parties

Other Notable Facts:

The Alberta NDP is the only party to ban corporations and trade unions from making electoral contributions.

The Alberta NDP and the Alberta Party are the only parties to have limits on campaign expenditures.

The Alberta NDP, Alberta Social Credit, Communist Party--Alberta, EverGreen Party of Alberta, and Separation Party of Alberta are the only parties that will create an Alberta electoral system based on proportional representation.

The Communist Party--Alberta is the only party that has public funding measures for political parties. The FDA recommends the same reform in its Alberta Report, and a majority of Canada's provinces have public funding measures like Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.

The Alberta Liberals, Alberta Social Credit, Separation Party of Alberta, and the Wildrose Alliance parties are the only parties that support public recall of MLAs.

None of the parties offer reforms of the ownership concentration of Alberta media or regulation of the political content of the media during the election period. The FDA recommends regulation of media political content during elections and/or media ownership concentration laws.

Foundation for Democratic Advancement

Non-profit, non-partisan organization which advances fair and transparent democratic processes wherever elections occur.

www.DemocracyChange.org