Bill 81, The Election Statutes Amendment Act, has a title designed to put the average Albertan to sleep.

But this is the piece of legislation that sparked a furious debate in the legislative assembly and kept MLAs up sleepless until 3 a.m. Wednesday before a majority of government members rammed the bill through.

The debate was long, raucous and at one time had the deputy Speaker of the assembly telling the government House leader, in so many words, to sit down and shut up.