Dear Minister. Dear Member of Parliament. Dear Bureaucrat.
Poly Tics . Social StudiesWelcome aboard the slow train to bureaucratic tyranny. Enjoy the ride.
Dear Mr. Neitsch:
My colleague, Peter Guthrie, MLA for Airdrie-Cochrane, shared your email of November 22, 2021, regarding your voting experience in the City of Airdrie. As Minister of Municipal Affairs, I am pleased to respond on behalf of the Government of Alberta.
I understand your frustration and determination to have your concerns addressed. As municipalities in Alberta are legislatively responsible for carrying out their municipal elections, I am pleased to see that you directed your concerns to the Returning Officer and staff for the City of Airdrie.
Municipalities faced significant challenges in safely conducting elections during a pandemic, while respecting the need to comply with both the Local Authorities Election Act and existing public health orders.
Recognizing that circumstances are continually evolving, I intend to review the Local Authorities Election Act now that the 2021 general municipal election has concluded. This will provide an opportunity to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the outcomes of recent changes and to ensure the legislation continues to meet the needs and expectations of Albertans. Your input will be considered as a part of this process.
Thank you for writing.
Sincerely,
Ric McIver
Minister
cc: Peter Guthrie, MLA, Airdrie-Cochrane
From: Al Neitsch <awneitsch@hotmail.com>
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2021 10:47 AM
To: Airdrie-Cochrane <Airdrie.Cochrane@assembly.ab.ca>
Subject: FW: Municipal Election 2021
Hello Peter Guthrie,
I am looking for help or guidance for an issue I had in the last municipal election. I had initially taken the matter to the AHRC but they directed me back to begin the process with The City of Airdrie. I think that I have taken the matter as far as I can with the municipality. I have forwarded the communication I have had with the city. It may be a bit of a scroll. Any input or direction will be appreciated.
Regards,
Al Neitsch
From: Al Neitsch
Sent: November 19, 2021 12:50 PM
To: Charlotte Satink; Karen Jiang; mayor@airdrie.ca
Subject: RE: Municipal Election 2021
Hello Again,
Be sure that I am not seeking anymore information on whether or not you all have acknowledged the incident or have noted my concerns or are working hard to improve the election process for next time.
I have been given reason to believe that I may not be able to vote in a next election not just because of my life expectancy but also because if current political actions continue, I may not have the required credentials to vote or otherwise participate in a free society.
Before I can move on with this one of many issues I have with life, I need to know whether or not The City of Airdrie is going to officially and meaningfully respond to the rights and acts violations that occurred to me and very likely others on election day. I am not looking for an apology since one would be meaningless to me. With whatever time I have left, I hope to find some hopeful meaning to pass on to my daughters.
If my rights or humanity no longer have meaning to government at a local level, what else is there? I will put it back to you and your office, to be accountable, and respond definitively whether or not my rights and human dignity still matter in this city, in this world.
I am not the only one that wants to know. I hope to hear from you soon.
Regards,
Alfred Neitsch
From: Charlotte Satink
Sent: November 19, 2021 11:42 AM
To: Al Neitsch
Cc: Karen Jiang; Mayor
Subject: RE: Municipal Election 2021 Good morning, Mr. Neitsch.
Aside from my initial email sent to you on November 9, I am unsure of what more information I can provide to you at this time.
Once again, we have noted your concerns and comments and are working on improving our processes for any upcoming elections.
Charlotte Satink Manager of Legislative Services and Information Governance Management | City of Airdrie | P. 403.948.8800 ext 8816
From: Al Neitsch <awneitsch@hotmail.com>
Sent: Friday, November 19, 2021 9:29 AM
To: Charlotte Satink <Charlotte.Satink@airdrie.ca>; Karen Jiang <Karen.Jiang@airdrie.ca>; Mayor <mayor@airdrie.ca>
Subject: FW: Municipal Election 2021
Hello Charlotte Satink and Karen Jiang,
I am following up on the communication I have had with your office regarding my experience during the last municipal election. I ask if there is going to be a further response to the letter dated Nov. 12, 2021 or if this matter has been closed by your office. Please advise so that I might move on with this matter. All previous correspondence is attached.
Regards,
Alfred Neitsch
From: Al Neitsch <mailto:awneitsch@hotmail.com>
Sent: November 12, 2021 9:17 AM
To: Charlotte Satink <mailto:Charlotte.Satink@airdrie.ca> ; Al Neitsch <mailto:awneitsch@hotmail.com> ; awneitsch@shaw.ca <mailto:awneitsch@shaw.ca>
Subject: RE: Municipal Election 2021
Hello Charlotte Satink,
Thank-you for replying on Ms. Jiang’s behalf. I can understand your explanation given the current political and medical environment however my concerns have not been addressed. The fact that I was segregated, discriminated against, shamed, and exposed to non-partial voting clerks and invasive questioning as well as being denied access to a safe and secure voting place remains. It is not a matter of how I felt while this was taking place and there is no need for you to apologize for my feelings. There remain the violations to the Local Authorities Elections Act which include the fact that I was not able to physically deposit my ballots into a ballot box to ensure that they were counted and simply told to trust that it would be done.
A bylaw is not a law and is superseded by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, The Alberta Bill of Rights, and the various Election Acts of Canada. The fact of whether reasonable accommodation was provided or if the procedures undertaken were consistent throughout the polling stations in Airdrie will remain to be seen. I have video and other evidence to strongly suggest that other violations occurred.
Life for people with illnesses or a conscience that prevents them from accepting forced medical interventions of any kind has become extremely difficult and shows no sign of relief. My personal situation is tenuous at best but I am determined to extract whatever life I can while supporting the lives of others.
This matter is not over.
Sincerely,
Alfred Neitsch
From: Charlotte Satink <Charlotte.Satink@airdrie.ca>
Sent: Tuesday, November 9, 2021 4:37:15 PM
To: Al Neitsch <awneitsch@hotmail.com>
Cc: LegislativeServices <Legislative.Services@airdrie.ca>; _Elections <Elections@airdrie.ca>
Subject: Municipal Election 2021
Good afternoon, Mr. Neitsch.
Thank you for sending your email to the Legislative Services team. Ms. Jiang is on some much needed holidays after the election and is away from the office.
As you can imagine, managing an election during a pandemic was a challenge. With the public health measures in place to protect our workers and the public, a face covering was required by law. Any voter who attended a voting station who was not already wearing a mask was offered one, or offered a face shield. If the face covering was refused, the election workers allowed voters who were not masked to complete their ballot outside the building. This is how the election workers were all trained to address this situation.
The intent was never to segregate, shame, or discriminated against and I’m sorry that you felt this way. The elections team strived to host an accessible and safe election while following Covid-19 measures as required.
The elections team appreciates your feedback and we are not only debriefing as a team but also with other municipalities to see how we can improve our processes for the next election.
Thank you for taking the time to provide your comments and they’ve been received by the election team.
If you have any further questions, please let me know.
Charlotte Satink Manager of Legislative Services and Information Governance Management | City of Airdrie | P. 403.948.8800 ext 8816
From: Al Neitsch <awneitsch@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 9, 2021 3:58 PM
To: LegislativeServices <Legislative.Services@airdrie.ca>
Subject: Fwd: [EXTERNAL] FW: Municipal Election 2018
Hello Leg. Services,
I have been trying to follow up on communication with Karen Jiang using karen.jiang@airdrie.ca <mailto:karen.jiang@airdrie.ca> but the most recent has bounced back as undeliverable. I am forwarding the most recent in hopes that it reaches Karen Jiang. This involves a matter that is very important to me and requires a response before I can proceed.
Regards,
Alfed Neitsch
From: Al Neitsch <awneitsch@hotmail.com <mailto:awneitsch@hotmail.com> >
Sent: Thursday, November 4, 2021 9:27:56 AM
To: Karen Jiang <Karen.Jiang@airdrie.ca <mailto:Karen.Jiang@airdrie.ca> >; mayor@airdrie.ca <mailto:mayor@airdrie.ca> <mayor@airdrie.ca <mailto:mayor@airdrie.ca> >
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] FW: Municipal Election 2018
Hello Karen,
My concerns are that when I went to vote at Coopers Crossing School on October 18, 2021, I was segregated, shamed, discriminated against, made to vote out of doors, in public without privacy, and not allowed to personally place my ballots into the ballot box. I was not able to participate in a secure and private voting process and I cannot be certain that my votes were properly counted.
In examining the Local Authorities Election Act, and aside from certain human rights violations, I have observed several violations of the act which include 13.1, 38.1, 38.2, 40.1, 40.2, 45.1, and 45.2. The election act is a very detailed document so there were likely more violations that took place. There also appeared to be inconsistencies in how voters were being handled. Even as I was waiting in line to vote, I observed a distraught woman leaving the polling station. She was not wearing a facial covering. When I asked her what happened, she said that she was made to feel like a criminal and rushed and shamed in front of other voters. She wished me good luck.
I have also heard that segregation and shaming was not practiced at the Coopers Crossing station as well as other stations in Airdrie. There is more to the incident that will be parsed out as I pursue this and no doubt other similar incidents will be brought forward.
Regards,
Alfred Neitsch
From: Karen Jiang <mailto:Karen.Jiang@airdrie.ca>
Sent: November 3, 2021 2:36 PM
To: Al Neitsch <mailto:awneitsch@hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] FW: Municipal Election 2018
Good afternoon Al,
Thank you for reaching out to us.
In order for us to best respond, can you please let us know in writing what your concerns are and I will forward it to the person best able to respond.
Regards,
Karen
From: Al Neitsch <awneitsch@hotmail.com <mailto:awneitsch@hotmail.com> >
Sent: Wednesday, November 3, 2021 11:07 AM
To: Karen Jiang <Karen.Jiang@airdrie.ca <mailto:Karen.Jiang@airdrie.ca> >
Subject: [EXTERNAL] FW: Municipal Election 2018
Hello Karen Jang,
I have recently spoken with representatives from the offices of Municipal Elections and the Provincial Ombudsman and they have informed me that before I deal with them directly, I have to contact the Chief Administrative Officer responsible for administrative services with the City of Airdrie that were co-ordinating the recent Oct. 18 municipal election.
I have serious concerns about how I, and others were treated during our voting experience and the inconsistencies that occurred that day. Before I continue with this process, can you confirm that you are right person to talk to?
Sincerely,
Alfred Neitsch