Changes to recall legislation not being considered this session: Alberta government

Despite the fact that 14 UCP MLAs are facing recall petitions, Alberta's justice minister says no imminent changes are coming to recall legislation.

Alberta’s Justice Minister Mickey Amery says the province does not intend to make changes in this session to its Recall Act.

The legislation was brought under former United Conservative Party Premier Jason Kenney as a way to allow citizens to hold politicians accountable between general elections.

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A petitioner must submit a reason about why they feel an MLA should be recalled in 100 words or fewer, live in the constituency and pay a $500 processing fee. The applicant has 90 days to collect enough signatures equalling 60 per cent of votes cast in the constituency in the 2023 election.

There are currently 14 and counting recall petitions with some deadlines coming in January and February.

On Monday, Premier Danielle Smith said the province will be introducing election legislation later this week, sparking speculation on whether or not it will include amendments to the Recall Act.

“We think that it is being weaponized by special interest groups to try and overthrow a government. That’s not the intention of a recall,” said Amery at the legislature Tuesday. “But I can further say that those changes are being contemplated – they will not appear as any bill this session.”

Elections Alberta’s former deputy electoral officer said he expects the rules to change at some point, which could have ramifications for recall petitions currently collecting signatures.

“Clearly the government is struggling with the legislation they introduced a couple of years ago,” said Drew Westwater. “These were started and commenced and approved under the existing legislation … If they make changes down the road, that won’t impact the ones that are currently underway.”

At last weekend’s UCP Annual General Meeting, Smith took a live audience poll on the recall legislation which heard more clapping for changes to it than leaving them as is.

Amery said the province is taking the opinions of its party members and non-UCP-members alike into consideration.

“The proposed changes to recall that we’ve heard about, we’re listening to Albertans,” said Amery. “We will make a decision if and when it’s appropriate to do so, but what I can say is no changes are coming to the recall at this time.”

The current legislative session is expected to end next week.

With files from The Canadian Press