Listens & Responds

13 Principles of Effective Representation

The Recall Nicolaides team holds the following principles in our efforts to hold your MLA, your representative to account:

1. The recall is not about partisanship. It is about representation. MLA Demetrios is expected to be accessible and accountable to the people he serves. Those expectations do not belong to any political ideology, they belong to democracy.
2. Calgary-Bow elected our MLA to represent us. Nicolaides’ first responsibility is to the residents of his constituency, not to a party ideology. That is a basic expectation of our democratic system.
3. Effective representation requires engagement. Constituents should be able to contact MLA Nicolaides, raise concerns using evidence, and receive meaningful and timely responses and action. When that connection breaks down, confidence in our representative breaks down with it.
4. Public office comes with an obligation to listen to all constituents, regardless of how they voted. Accessibility is not optional. It is a core part of MLA Nicolaides job.
5. Our MLA is meant to bring the community’s concerns to the Legislature, not force the Legislature’s decisions down to the constituency. The direction of accountability flows from us, Calgary-Bow residents, through to our representative.
6. Party loyalty has its place, but it cannot override the duty to represent Calgary-Bow residents. Alberta’s democratic system depends on MLAs who will speak up when their community needs it.
7. Accountability is not a partisan concept. It is a democratic requirement. Citizens have the right to expect honest communication, follow through and transparency from MLA Nicolaides.
8. Recall legislation exists to protect the public, not political interests. Constituents who feel evidence is being ignored, or access to representation is denied, have the democratic right to use it. 
9. Recall is a lawful mechanism created by the Alberta Legislature. Using it does not make citizens partisan or extreme. It means they take democracy and representation seriously.
10. Healthy democracy depends on participation. If you and thousands of people engage in this recall process, it will be recognized as a sign that Calgary-Bow wants better representation, not dismissed as political maneuvering.
11. Recall is not about punishing an MLA. It is a performance review. It is a tool to restore accountability when constituents believe MLA Nicolaides is not meeting his obligations to the public.
12. Representation belongs to everyone in the riding, not just supporters of one party. Democracy works best in Calgary-Bow when our MLA serves as a real voice for everyone who lives in his constituency.
13. A strong MLA welcomes feedback, even when it is difficult. Listening, adjusting and engaging are signs of effective leadership, not weakness.