NDP’s Renaud, Tory leader Guthrie newest MLAs to face recall petitions

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on March 13, 2026.

Two more recall petitions were issued Thursday, targeting opposition MLAs.

NDP MLA Marie Renaud is facing a recall petition in her riding of St. Albert, where proponents would need to gather 15,502 signatures to advance her petition.

In her application statement, proponent Lilo Forsyth cites Renaud’s support for Bill 24, An Act to Support Gay-straight Alliances, in 2017.

In her member statement in response to the recall, Renaud said she works hard to ensure all students have access to quality public education regardless of race, religion, ability or gender.

MLA Peter Guthrie, leader of the new Progressive Tory Party, is also facing a recall petition in his riding of Airdrie-Cochrane.

It is unclear what specific complaints led to the initiation of Guthrie’s recall campaign. The recall statement of proponent Lawrence Martini reads:

“Unjustifiably accused by Law Firm (BDP) then ordered to Court.

With no Lawyer, Rights Violated, Evidence Blocked, they Won. Later discovered, they had submitted false evidence (Criminal Fraud).

Obstructing Justice: Law Society, Court Justices, Police, UCP, MLA Guthrie, Others, refused to communicate with me. This was a Cover Up, where Dishonesty andCorruption rule over Truth.

PM Trudeau and Justice Minister Lametti stated to take this to Justice Minister Amery. No response.

At Guthrie’s ‘Open House’, unprovoked, Guthrie called the Police to have me removed.

We did nothing wrong, Punished, Lost everything. This is a scam.

Public inquiry.”

The only criteria for a petition to launch are for the proponent to reside in the electoral division for at least three months, a statement up to 100 words and a fee of $500. Proponents also must assign a chief financial officer.

The petition to recall Guthrie requires 18,171 signatures to advance.

In his member statement, Guthrie said he was unable to resolve Martini’s complaints, but that the situation was approached in good faith.

“As an MLA, there are limits to my role, particularly with respect to private legal matters and court proceedings,” he wrote.

The latest petitions bring the total list of recall attempts up to 28. The majority of the recall campaigns have targeted UCP MLAs, but three have targeted NDP MLAs.

To date, all recall petitions have failed, including the one against Premier Danielle Smith, with none getting close to the required signatures.