An Edmonton Journal opinion column argues that controversy surrounding Elections Alberta’s handling of the Water Not Coal petition has created a crisis of democratic legitimacy serious enough to cancel Alberta’s October 19 referendum.

That conclusion does not follow from the evidence.

The independence movement has repeatedly warned that Elections Alberta and the Office of the Election Commissioner are not applying the rules fairly to both sides of the campaign.

Rebel News and the registered Alberta’s Choice referendum campaign have gone as far as filing an emergency court challenge over what they allege is unequal enforcement. The case concerns claims that federalist campaigners have not faced the same fundraising, disclosure and advertising requirements imposed on registered independence groups.

Despite those serious concerns, independence campaigners are not demanding that the referendum be cancelled. They are demanding that the rules be enforced consistently so Albertans can cast an informed and properly protected vote.

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Challenging the conduct of an election regulator is not the same as opposing an election. Political parties and campaigners routinely seek judicial reviews, recounts and enforcement orders while continuing to participate in the democratic process.

The independence side has called for transparency, scrutineers, equal application of campaign-finance rules and hand-counted ballots. Its organizers continue to recruit volunteers and campaign for Option 2 on October 19.

The Water Not Coal campaign also has legitimate questions. Organizers submitted 207,435 signatures, but Elections Alberta concluded that only an estimated 172,088 were valid, leaving the initiative below the required 177,732.

Corb Lund’s campaign responded by filing a judicial review. It did not argue that Elections Alberta’s alleged failures justified cancelling every future vote in the province.

The same principle applies to the independence referendum.

If Elections Alberta has made errors or treated campaigns differently, those problems should be exposed, reviewed by the courts and corrected before voting day. Additional scrutiny is a reason to strengthen the process, not abandon it.

Cancelling the referendum would punish Albertans for the regulator’s alleged failures. It would also hand referendum opponents their preferred outcome without requiring them to win the vote.

Problems at Elections Alberta do not invalidate the democratic process. They make transparency and oversight more important.

Albertans should still decide Alberta’s future at the ballot box.