No changes coming ‘at the moment’ for Alberta’s recall legislation: Premier Smith

EDMONTON – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government has no plans to change provincial recall legislation — at least for the moment.

The legislation has been brought to the forefront lately, as two petitions were recently given the green light by Elections Alberta, kick-starting efforts to unseat members of Smith’s United Conservative caucus, with more petitions potentially on the way.

Smith, during question period Wednesday, said she’s concerned such petition drives aren’t using the legislation in good faith but instead are trying to overthrow her government.

Facing heckles and questions from the Opposition NDP about the framing of the petitioners’ goals, one of Smith’s ministers pointed to Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan last week advocating for recalls to “topple this government” as payback for the government’s use of the Charter’s notwithstanding clause to end a provincewide teachers strike.

“I can tell you that kind of language does not say to me that they’re engaging in the recall process in good faith,” Smith told the house.

“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 two petitions approved so far are for Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides and backbencher Angela Pitt. In both cases, the applicants behind the recall efforts have said their motivations aren’t aimed at toppling Alberta’s government.

The applicant behind Nicolaides’ petition has said the ministers’ lack of support for public education is what motivated her to take action, while the Airdrie, Alta., resident behind Pitt’s petition has said he wants a more responsive representative who can take action on the community’s concerns.

Pitt’s petitioner, Derek Keenan, also said Tuesday he didn’t want the NDP to move in and pick up the seat, citing the community’s conservative values.

Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said in question period that Smith’s disregard for the petitioners’ concerns flies in the face of the government’s proclaimed support for direct democracy.

“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.

Those behind the petition drives have three months to collect signatures in the riding that are equal to at least 60 per cent of the votes cast in the 2023 election.

If the petition drives are successful and the signatures are validated, a vote would be held within four months in each riding. If more than half the voters cast a ballot to remove either Pitt or Nicolaides, they would be unseated as members of the legislature.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2025.