The movement to recall United Conservative Party MLAs across Alberta continues to gather significant momentum, with Elections Alberta approving a second recall petition this week and organizing efforts now expanding to more than 20 ridings throughout the province.
Airdrie-East Takes the Lead
In Airdrie-East, resident Derek Keenan is spearheading the petition campaign to recall MLA Angela Pitt, which received official approval from Elections Alberta on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. Keenan and approximately a dozen canvassers anticipate beginning signature collection this weekend, pending receipt of their approved identification badges from the electoral authority.
"As soon as that happens, we'll start collecting signatures," Keenan stated on Thursday. The campaign faces a substantial challenge: they must gather nearly 15,000 valid signatures by February 3 to trigger a recall vote in the constituency.
Motivation Behind the Recall Effort
Keenan explained that his decision to launch the recall initiative stems from ongoing difficulties that he and other community members have experienced when attempting to communicate with their elected representative. "It was very difficult to get through to (Pitt)," he revealed. "And when you did, the responses tended to be kind of canned or non-responsive to questions."
Identifying as a conservative himself, Keenan emphasized that the petition drive is not motivated by partisanship but rather by concerns about representation. "I want good representation for our community, regardless of the party," he asserted. "It's really about responsible and respectful representation."
In his formal application to Elections Alberta, Keenan cited residents' concerns about Pitt's "lacking availability and open engagement" on issues affecting the riding. He wrote that "For our community to thrive, we need a representative committed to constructive dialogue and responsible governance."
Growing Support and Official Response
The recall campaign has already demonstrated substantial community interest. Keenan established a Facebook group earlier this week that has rapidly grown to include nearly 500 members, indicating significant local engagement with the initiative.
When Postmedia reached out for comment on Thursday, MLA Angela Pitt did not immediately respond to requests for statement regarding the recall effort targeting her position.
The Airdrie-East petition represents just one component of a broader political phenomenon unfolding across Alberta. Recall campaigns have been initiated against multiple UCP MLAs, including Rajan Sawhney, indicating widespread discontent among certain voter segments.
Elections Alberta Funding Challenges
The expanding recall movement coincides with financial challenges facing Alberta's electoral authority. Earlier this week, Chief Electoral Officer Gordon McClure appealed to a legislature committee to reconsider a supplemental funding request after receiving only a fraction of the amount sought.
McClure had requested $13.5 million in additional funding for Elections Alberta to accommodate two citizen initiatives and two recall petitions. However, UCP MLA Nolan Dyck introduced a motion to reduce the allocation to $1.46 million, which passed in a 5-4 committee vote.
This funding decision raises questions about the electoral authority's capacity to manage the growing number of recall petitions and citizen initiatives effectively as the movement continues to expand across the province.
