Danielle Smith has become the second Alberta premier – and the first in almost 90 years – to face a citizen-led petition drive to get her removed from her seat in the legislature.
Smith and two more of her United Conservative Party caucus members saw recall campaigns officially approved and launched Wednesday by Elections Alberta.
In total, 20 in the 47-member UCP caucus are facing recall petitions. A formal signature-gathering drive has also been launched against one Opposition NDP member, Amanda Chapman.
Heather VanSnick is leading the petition drive in Smith’s southern Alberta riding of Brooks-Medicine Hat. VanSnick needs to collect just over 12,000 signatures to move the process forward.
In her application, VanSnick writes that Smith has been ignoring local constituents and experts in developing policies.
“Effective leadership requires genuine connection and consistent engagement, both absent in her tenure,” VanSnick wrote.
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VanSnick also said Smith needs to go because the premier has been weakening public services in favour of privatization.
“Ms. Smith is no longer fit to serve,” VanSnick said.
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Premier Danielle Smith could be the next Alberta MLA facing recall
Smith, in a statement to Elections Alberta in response to the petition, denied ignoring local voices.
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“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 premier was scheduled to hold a news conference later Wednesday.
Petitions were also issued Wednesday for Technology Minister Nate Glubish in Strathcona-Sherwood Park, east of Edmonton, and Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz in Calgary Shaw.
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Like many other petitioners, those behind the campaigns to unseat Glubish and Schulz said the politicians have failed to address concerns and viewpoints of constituents.
Glubish and Schulz both said they’re communicating while getting tangible results for constituents.
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.
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Aberhart blamed shadowy forces behind the scenes pulling strings to orchestrate his ouster. Weeks later, his government voted to repeal the act.
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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 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.
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