Grande Prairie Mayor Bill Given says he is disappointed that Bill 29, the Local Authorities Election Amendment Act, passed final reading this week in the Alberta legislature.

The bill proposes changes to rules for municipal and school board elections, including allowing people to donate up to $5,000 for as many candidates as they like and allowing candidates to not disclose their donors before election day.

“The impact of this, or the potential impact of this, is for a small group of wealthy interests to fund candidates all across the province,” he said Thursday in an interview with CBC Edmonton’s Radio Active.

Municipal Affairs Minister Kaycee Madu has said the changes are designed to better engage Albertans in local issues and “level the playing field,” allowing the best candidates to run and win.

Source: Changes to Alberta’s local elections ‘damaging to democracy,’ Grande Prairie mayor says | CBC News