Recall petition for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said to be in the works

If the submission did make its way to Elections Alberta, a decision would need to be made within seven days of receiving it.

Brendan Hillson, owner of McBride’s Bakery, said he isn’t the one behind the recall petition, but put the post online to let people know his business would be a signing location.

“I don’t know exactly when they’re gonna be able to set up the tables, but it could be as early as this Friday,” Hillson said.

“I wanted to let people know who are coming to the bakery that it will be there. Then I also wanted to let people who aren’t even customers of the bakery, but who are interested in signing the petition, [know] that you can come and do that.”

Hillson added that he also wants to avoid confrontation and debate at his business.

“A week or two ago, there was the petition about funding for private schools in front of the bakery, and some guy showed up,” Hillson said.

“He was nice enough, but got out of his truck and walked up to the canvassers and said, I just wanted to have a conversation,” he added.

“The canvassers said, we’re not here to have a conversation. If you want to sign, you can sign, but we’re not gonna converse. But he kept going. And I’m sure he thought when he showed up that he was there to have a civil, polite adult conversation, but it took like 30 seconds, and they were shouting at each other.”

This is something that Hillson hopes to avoid if the petition ends up at his business, adding that it’s not a place for a town hall debate, forum or anything.

If approved, the recall petition would need to collect 12,070 signatures from constituents in the Brooks-Medicine Hat riding to start the recall process.

That number represents 60 per cent of the 20,117 individuals who voted in the riding during the 2023 provincial election.

If confirmed, a recall vote would be held within four months of the date of the successful petition results being published.

If more than 50 per cent of the electors who vote are in favour of the recall, the MLA is recalled, and a by-election is held in the electoral division.

Smith received 66.5 per cent of the votes cast during the last provincial election for a total of 13,315.

The organizer of the recall petition has set up a website at recalldaniellesmith.ca.

The group sent out a press release early Monday afternoon.

According to the release, last names have been withheld due to threats made against individuals involved in the initiative.

The Medicine Hat resident who submitted the recall petition, Heather V. said the
effort is driven by ongoing concerns about the Premier’s lack of presence and meaningful engagement with this diverse community.

“Smith was placed in this riding through a by-election because there
are a lot of voters here who supported Smith’s party,” Heather V. said.

“She has no meaningful connection to the community, and constituents have been struggling to get a hold of her to express their concerns.”

Campaign co-organizer Brittany D., who will be coordinating volunteer
and outreach efforts, said people are preparing to gather signatures as soon as approval is granted.

“Given that 14 other recall petitions have already been approved in Alberta, we are hopeful this one will be as well; it would be surprising if it wasn’t approved,” Brittany D. said.

“It has become clear while speaking with community members that Premier Smith does not represent the majority of people here. Particularly, her own voters are concerned about her use of the notwithstanding clause.”

The organizers said that the recall effort includes voters across the
political spectrum who feel unheard and unrepresented.

Twelve topics on the website list reasons for launching the petition, including the use of the Notwithstanding Clause, the rights of trans youth and children, and its use to stop the teachers’ strike.

by Jesse Gill