Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is warning that a wave of recall efforts targeting her United Conservative Party MLAs could destabilize her government.
Back in the legislature this week, Smith said she is now considering amending the province’s Recall Act, as tensions rise, and while one UCP minister denounces threats made against his wife and staff.
“There are some issues that have been raised,” said Smith. “For instance, there’s a GoFundMe being used to raise money. Well, that’s not allowed under the legislation.
“The representatives in this legislature have not even been told by the elections official that they are authorized to be able to start their own funding. These are problems, we are monitoring them, and we’re seeing if we need to make any changes.”
Smith’s comments followed a lunchtime meeting of the UCP caucus, in which the topic was top secret.
“As I’ve already said, we don’t talk about what happens in caucus,” said MLA Grant Hunter.
But several MLAs did acknowledge a strong backlash from Albertans over Bill 2.
“Look, I think that every MLA’s office right now is having some struggles right now with people being angry,” said Hunter. “So, we just got to get through that.”
Agriculture Minister RJ Sigurdson wrote on Facebook: “My staff and my family have been subjected to yelling, obscene gestures, and rude, even threatening behavior—actions that no one should condone. My office staff, and myself, have also been subjected to unfair and unwarranted comments related to allegations of neglect in responding to residents. This is grossly unfair.
“I need to state that over the past few weeks there has been a targeted, organized flooding of my constituency office of emails and phone calls. It’s becoming clearer everyday that this is engineered as some sort of political ploy. Obviously, we do not consider any of the above as acceptable in any other aspect of our society. We do not allow this to happen in any workplace, school or hospital….
“There is just no excuse ANYONE can state that makes this acceptable. These are not just breaches of decorum; they are deeply concerning and can have a lasting, negative impact on the well-being of the individuals involved. No one should ever have to endure this type of bullying or harassment. No disagreement, however passionate, justifies crossing the line into cruelty. The safety and dignity of every individual, especially those who had no part in public decision-making, must remain sacred.”
In the same pots, Sigurdson acknowledged that “most of this stems from the decision to return children to school, more specifically the using of the notwithstanding clause to resolve a difficult labor action.”
Two recall petitions have now been approved to gather signatures, but as many as 22 UCP MLAs are listed on a website as at least “targeted” for recall.
“Normally what happens is you wait for a general election to be able to have the record of government tested and that will be a time that we will be able to have that discussion,” said Smith.
In the past, UCP MLAs have spoken in favour of using the Recall Act — for any reason. That includes the premier, who, in 2023, pointed out Albertans have the power to recall city councillors over bike lanes.
Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi blasted the premier for even talking about changing recall rules, which were brought in by a UCP government.
“She says she believes in direct democracy but when people use it against her, suddenly it’s ‘overthrowing the government,’” said Nenshi. “She’s using inflammatory language to demonize just everyday citizens, grandmas, moms and teachers who are going door-to-door in the neighbourhoods collecting signatures.”
Still, Nenshi said any abuse of any MLA is not OK.
“I’m calling for civility across the board,” he said. “But I’m also calling for accountability. If you don’t want people to be mad about you making unconstitutional decisions that hurt them, try not making unconstitutional decisions that hurt them.”
Recall petitioners have 90 days to collect their signatures. The soonest deadline, for an effort to fire the education minister, comes due on Jan. 21.