Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has stated that her government has no immediate plans to amend provincial recall legislation, despite recent petitions targeting members of her United Conservative Party (UCP) caucus.
Two petitions were recently approved by Elections Alberta, initiating efforts to unseat Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides and backbencher Angela Pitt. More petitions could follow.
During question period on Wednesday, Smith expressed concern that some petitioners are not using the recall process in good faith but are attempting to destabilize her government. One minister highlighted remarks by Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan, who recently called for recalls to “topple this government” in response to the use of the notwithstanding clause to end a provincewide teachers’ strike.
Smith said, “I can tell you that kind of language does not say to me that they’re engaging in the recall process in good faith.” However, she emphasized that no legislative changes are currently planned. “That being said … there is no legislation on the table at the moment to make any changes, so the members are going to wait and see if any of these petitions end up getting the number of signatures and then we’ll deal with it at that time.”
The petitions currently approved are motivated by local concerns rather than a desire to remove the UCP from power. Nicolaides’ petitioner criticized the minister’s perceived lack of support for public education, while Derek Keenan, the petitioner against Pitt, said he wanted a representative more responsive to community concerns and emphasized he did not want the NDP to gain the seat, citing conservative values in Airdrie.
Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi criticized the government for dismissing petitioners’ concerns. “Albertans are wondering what rights this government will trample on next, what freedoms they will take away next, and this government is worrying about who will be recalled next,” Nenshi said.
Petitioners have three months to collect signatures equal to at least 60 per cent of the votes cast in the 2023 election for their riding. If verified, a vote would be held within four months, and a majority vote could unseat the targeted MLA.
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