Letter: Recall petitioners just following the due process laid out by Smith’s government

By Letter to the Editor on December 16, 2025.

Dear editor,

Re: Recall Petition for Smith Made Official, Medicine Hat News, Dec. 11.

On Premier Smith’s radio show, in April 2024, responding to petitioner Landon Johnston (petitioning to recall Mayor Joti Gondek), she said, “What I’ve observed from the process you’ve gone through is that it’s an extremely high bar,” Smith said.

“We know that we need to make some modifications.”

The following are some of the modifications (made in July 2025) as outlined in the Election Statutes Amendment Act, 2025.

1. Reduce to 100 the number of words (formerly 200 words). 2. Extend the recall petition signature collection timeline to 90 days (formerly 60 days). 3. Petition to be signed by 60% of total number of electors who voted (formerly 40% of total of the electorate). 4. Allow union and corporate contributions (Formerly not allowed).

In her statement last week, Smith said, “All you need to do is have $500, hire a CFO, and write a 100 word reason … and you can launch a petition.”

Yes, but implying that this is easy is disingenuous. This is a huge process to even get started. And, once approved, the recall needs 12,070 signatures.

In the article, the premier commented that, “The number of petitions currently active indicates abuse of the recall legislation.”

If there was abuse, then Elections Alberta would not be able to approve the recalls. The government’s own guidelines are being carefully followed. This is due process.

Anna Hansen

Medicine Hat

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