The Alberta government is hiking the cost to apply for a citizen-initiated referendum to $25,000 in an effort to discourage “frivolous” applicants and ensure only those who are “serious” apply.
The fee increase comes amid a recent wave of recall petitions in Alberta targeting Premier Danielle Smith, several cabinet ministers, and United Conservative Party (UCP) MLAs.
“Increasing the citizen initiative petition application fee set out in the Citizen Initiative Regulation will ensure that only applicants with a serious interest in proposing a legislative initiative, policy initiative, or constitutional referendum question apply,” Heather Jenkins, press secretary for Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery, told The Epoch Times in a Dec. 19 email statement….