Petitions
Petitions are used to express public opinion to Council. Petitions that meet all legislative requirements can be used to compel Council to take action on a specific issue.
What is a Petition?
A petition is a formal request to Council for:
- an action to be taken
- express public opinion to Council.
What can I petition?
Petitions can be made in response to three different matters:
- Bylaws - Electors may petition for a new bylaw, or a bylaw to amend or repeal an existing bylaw.
- Advertised Bylaws and Resolutions - Electors may petition against advertised bylaws or resolutions.
- Local Improvements - Ratepayers can petition for a local improvement. Property owners affected by a proposed local improvement can petition against the local improvement.
How do I petition?
A petition must be completed in a specific way in order to be valid. For detailed instructions visit the Alberta Government's Petition information for electors web page.
The general requirements are:
- Each page of the petition must contain an identical statement of purpose.
- The petition must include, for each petitioner:
- the printed surname and printed given names or initials of the petitioner;
- the signature of the petitioner;
- the street address of the petitioner or the legal description of the land on which the petitioner lives (a “Rural Route” or Post Office Box” address is not sufficient);
- the date on which the petitioner signs the petition; and
- Each signature must be witnessed by an adult person who must:
- sign opposite the signature of the petitioner; and
- take an affidavit that to the best of the person’s knowledge the signatures witnessed are those of persons entitled to sign the petition.
- The petition must have attached to it a signed statement of a person stating that:
- the person is the representative of the petitioners, and
- the municipality may direct any inquiries about the petition to Municipal Affairs.