Amid growing public discontent with the state of governance in Alberta, the province’s citizens are making their voices heard. A whopping 26 members of the Alberta legislature, including more than half of Premier Danielle Smith’s 47-member caucus, are now facing recall petitions. This unprecedented move marks the first time Alberta’s Recall Act has been utilized to attempt the ousting of provincial politicians. The QuickList on the 26 Alberta politicians facing citizen recall petitions reveals an overwhelming majority are from the United Conservative Party (UCP), with two from the Opposition New Democrats.
Alberta’s Recall Act: Empowering Citizens
The Recall Act, enacted under former UCP premier Jason Kenney, was designed to empower citizens and hold politicians accountable between general elections. Under this legislation, a resident of the constituency has the right to file a petition against their Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) by submitting a reason in 100 words or fewer and paying a $500 processing fee. The reasons can be varied, with no set criteria outlined.
If Elections Alberta approves the petition, the petitioner then has 90 days to collect signatures from the constituency, equivalent to 60% of the votes cast in that constituency in the 2023 election. Should they succeed, a constituency-wide vote is held within four months to decide whether the MLA should be recalled. If the majority vote in favor, the member is removed, and a byelection is held.
The Politicians Facing Recall Petitions: An Overview
The 26 politicians now facing recall petitions come from a range of constituencies and hold diverse roles within their respective parties. Some of the key figures include:
Demetrios Nicolaides (UCP; Calgary-Bow)
Jennifer Yeremiy, the petitioner, accuses Nicolaides of prioritizing privatization over adequately funding the public education system and handling overcrowded classrooms. Nicolaides contends that recall petitions should be tied to a member’s core duties rather than dissatisfaction with government policy.
Angela Pitt (UCP; Airdrie-East)
Pitt, the deputy Speaker, is accused by petitioner Derek Keenan of not advocating for constituents and posting unfounded claims and divisive rhetoric online.
Nolan Dyck (UCP; Grande Prairie)
Casey Klein, the petitioner, alleges Dyck of prioritizing party representation over his constituents’ needs. Dyck counters by saying he has fulfilled his legislative promises.
Ric McIver (UCP; Calgary-Hays)
Oana Uritescu, the petitioner, accuses McIver of reducing local democratic control and failing to address the constituency’s needs. McIver, now the house Speaker, believes the recall effort to be a coordinated attempt to overturn democratic elections.
Other MLAs facing recalls include Myles McDougall (UCP; Calgary-Fish Creek), Muhammad Yaseen (UCP; Calgary-North), Rajan Sawhney (UCP; Calgary-North West), R.J. Sigurdson (UCP; Highwood), Dale Nally (UCP; Morinville-St. Albert), and Glenn van Dijken (UCP; Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock).
Implications and the Road Ahead
This wave of recall petitions indicates a significant level of dissatisfaction among the citizens of Alberta with their political representation. As the process unfolds, the results could have far-reaching implications for the political landscape of the province, particularly for the United Conservative Party. Despite the various criticisms and defenses offered by the politicians involved, the ultimate decision now lies in the hands of the constituents. Regardless of the outcome, this unprecedented event underscores the essential role of the electorate in holding politicians accountable and shaping the course of governance.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 23, 2025.
