Cold Lake city council has decided to maintain political neutrality in its public facilities, opting not to allow election petitions in the common areas of the Energy Centre.
The issue was discussed during the March 10, 2026 regular council meeting after a delegation asked the city to reconsider its current approach to political petitioning in public spaces.
While council members acknowledged that petitions are an important part of the democratic process, several councillors said the high-traffic recreational facility should remain neutral and welcoming for all residents.
Councillor Ryan Bailey voiced strong opposition to allowing petitions in areas used by families accessing recreation services.
“If you have a family rushing in to drop their little ones off for figure skating or hockey, the last thing they need to do is run the political gauntlet of going past a table to sign a petition for or against,” Bailey said.
He added that those organizing petitions should not rely on city facilities to conduct their initiatives.
“These are all private citizen initiatives and as private citizens they should be maybe going door-to-door or running it out of their private business,” Bailey said.
Balancing neutrality with democratic access
Councillor Dawn Weber raised the concern that council must also consider citizens’ rights to participate in legitimate democratic processes.
“If it’s something that’s sanctioned by Elections Canada and it is part of the democratic process, not just some private thing, I think we need to make sure that we offer those facilities and those opportunities in some sort of way,” Weber said.
Mayor Bob Mattice also noted that the city does not have full authority over every public facility connected to municipal operations.
“We don’t control the library. We fund the library to do what they want and what they wish, but we’re attached to that if that happens here,” Mattice said.
Council accepts presentation as information
In the end, council voted to accept the delegation’s presentation as information only, effectively maintaining the current approach that keeps common public areas within city facilities free from political petition tables or displays.
Private room rentals at city facilities remain subject to separate booking policies and regulations.
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Cold Lake Council Rejects Political Petitions in Public Spaces, Citing Need for Neutrality
Cold Lake city council has decided to maintain political neutrality in its public facilities, opting not to allow election petitions in the common areas of the Energy Centre.
The issue was discussed during the March 10, 2026 regular council meeting after a delegation asked the city to reconsider its current approach to political petitioning in public spaces.
While council members acknowledged that petitions are an important part of the democratic process, several councillors said the high-traffic recreational facility should remain neutral and welcoming for all residents.
Councillor Ryan Bailey voiced strong opposition to allowing petitions in areas used by families accessing recreation services.
“If you have a family rushing in to drop their little ones off for figure skating or hockey, the last thing they need to do is run the political gauntlet of going past a table to sign a petition for or against,” Bailey said.
He added that those organizing petitions should not rely on city facilities to conduct their initiatives.
“These are all private citizen initiatives and as private citizens they should be maybe going door-to-door or running it out of their private business,” Bailey said.
Balancing neutrality with democratic access
Councillor Dawn Weber raised the concern that council must also consider citizens’ rights to participate in legitimate democratic processes.
“If it’s something that’s sanctioned by Elections Canada and it is part of the democratic process, not just some private thing, I think we need to make sure that we offer those facilities and those opportunities in some sort of way,” Weber said.
Mayor Bob Mattice also noted that the city does not have full authority over every public facility connected to municipal operations.
“We don’t control the library. We fund the library to do what they want and what they wish, but we’re attached to that if that happens here,” Mattice said.
Council accepts presentation as information
In the end, council voted to accept the delegation’s presentation as information only, effectively maintaining the current approach that keeps common public areas within city facilities free from political petition tables or displays.
Private room rentals at city facilities remain subject to separate booking policies and regulations.
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