After more than a week since Albertans learned Premier Danielle Smith would be facing a recall petition in her riding of Brooks-Medicine Hat, Elections Alberta has listed it among active campaigns. The premier had yet to issue a statement of acknowledgement since the petition's organizer last week said it had been approved, though Smith did issue a statement on Wednesday.--CP FILE PHOTO
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
The recall petition for Premier Danielle Smith in her riding of Brooks-Medicine Hat was officially issued Wednesday.
Alongside new recall campaigns for Rebecca Schulz, Calgary-Shaw MLA and minister of Environment and Protected Areas, and Nate Glubish, Strathcona-Sherwood Park MLA and minister of Technology and Innovation, Smith makes 20 of the UCP’s 47-member caucus now facing a petition.
Applicant Heather VanSnick says it’s a relief to be able to begin to find canvassers and collect signatures. She and her team will need to collect 12,070 valid signatures by March 10 from those within the riding in order to move into the next stage of the recall process.
“I think we will collect the signatures we need in the time that we need,” said VanSnick. “Whatever happens is what’s meant to happen.”
When asked about the recall petition during a media event, Smith said “Brooks-Medicine Hat used to call themselves the Forgotten Corner, and they’re not forgotten anymore.”
She says recent projects have gone through during her time as MLA in roads and health facility upgrades, and she looks forward to continuing to serve the region. However, Smith also commented that she believes the number of petitions currently active indicates abuse of the recall legislation.
“All you need to do is have $500, hire a CFO and write 100-word reason why you are launching a petition and you can launch a petition,” Smith said, referring to rules her own government implemented in July. “So we’ve been watching this thinking that this is not how it was intended when it first came in.”
She further expressed that Alberta’s government will be watching the processes with interest, though Smith suggested she’s been a strong MLA for the riding thus far.
“I regularly make myself available to meet with constituents and I routinely host town halls across my riding,” Smith said. “I’m proud to serve the people of Brooks-Medicine Hat and I use the feedback I hear from all of you to help inform all decisions, big or small, that our government makes.”
The recall has seen strong support from both within the riding and the province at large, said VanSnick. She encourages anyone interested in becoming a canvasser for the collection period to reach out to recall.daniellesmith@gmail.com to begin the process.
Out of Alberta’s 19 premiers, only Smith and Social Credit leader William Aberhart have faced a citizen recall. Their scenarios are similar despite being decades apart.
Aberhart’s party campaigned on and, after winning government, passed in 1936 the Legislative Assembly (Recall Act) to hold representatives accountable between elections. A year later, it was turned on Aberhart by members of his Okotoks-High River constituency, unhappy with what they called failed promises, mainly around monetary reform.
Aberhart blamed shadowy forces behind the scenes pulling strings to orchestrate his ouster. Weeks later, his government voted to repeal the act.
In 2019, the UCP under Jason Kenney ran on introducing the Recall Act once again. His government passed the law in 2021.
Earlier this year, under Smith, the UCP changed the law to make it easier for citizens to collect enough signatures to trigger a recall.
As recall petitions mounted in recent weeks against members of Smith’s caucus, the UCP and the bill’s original architect, Kenney, said it’s being misused as its intent is to address serious ethical breaches rather than resolve policy disputes.
Smith has mused about changing the act, citing concerns that shadowy foreign actors or unions are behind the recall drives. The Alberta Federation of Labour has denied the allegation.
The process to get a legislature member recalled is daunting and lengthy. The petitioners have three months to collect signatures equal to 60 per cent of the total number of votes cast in the constituency in the 2023 election.
If successful, a vote would be held on whether the MLA keeps their seat. If the member loses, a byelection is held.
The fixed date for Alberta’s next general election is less than two years away, on Oct. 18, 2027.
— with files from The Canadian Press
