Alberta Senate nominee election, 2012
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3 persons to become senators-in-waiting |
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The 2012 Alberta Senate nominee election, formally the 4th Senate nominee election of Alberta, was held to elect three nominees for appointment to the Senate of Canada to represent the province of Alberta. It was to be held in the fall of 2010, but was delayed by then-Premier Ed Stelmach. His successor, Alison Redford, announced that it would be held in conjunction with the 2012 provincial election, before June 1, 2012. On March 26, it was announced that it would be held April 23, 2012. The results followed the provincial election closely, with the Progressive Conservatives winning all three positions, and the Wildrose Party a close second.
Alberta is the only province to hold elections for nominees to the Senate. The elections, held under Alberta's Senate Selection Act, are not binding on the prime minister when he advises the governor general on appointments to the Senate. Under the act, the number of Senate nominees, also known as senators-in-waiting to be elected is set by the Lieutenant Governor-in-Council when issuing the writ of election.
The Lieutenant Governor, also on the advice of ministers, also sets the term for senators-in-waiting. At the time senators-in-waiting were elected at the 2004 election, the term was six years from the date of election. As discussed below, those terms were extended to the earlier of December 13, 2013, or the issuance of writs for a new election. Under regulations issued January 20, 2012, senators-in-waiting will be elected for terms ending when new writs are issued. This gives the premier the flexibility to call new Senate nominee elections at will. As seen with Premier Stelmach, the premier effectively had this power under the previous regulations by retaining the ability to amend them.
Premier Ed Stelmach announced in October 2009 that new Senate nominee elections would be held because the incumbents' terms were set to end on November 22, 2010. The PC Government announced on April 29, 2010, that it was extending the terms of the three senators-in-waiting beyond November 22, 2010, to December 2, 2013, unless elections were called earlier. The Government said the move would save Albertans the cost of the election. The announcement came two days after the federal government introduced Senate election legislation and urged the other provinces to follow Alberta's lead in Senate reform.
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