Alberta's political landscape faces renewed turbulence as the province's Chief Electoral Officer, Gordon McClure, has approved recall petitions against four more Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). This latest batch includes the province's Health Minister, Adriana LaGrange, marking a significant escalation in a citizen-led movement that now threatens the governing United Conservative Party's majority.
Who Is Facing Recall?
The newly approved petitions target UCP representatives from across the province. The MLAs now subject to potential removal are:
- Adriana LaGrange, Health Minister and MLA for Red Deer-North.
- Amanda Chapman, MLA for Calgary-Beddington.
- Peter Singh, MLA for Calgary-East.
- Tanya Fir, MLA for Calgary-Peigan.
Each petition was filed by a separate constituent applicant: Laurie McCormack, Denise Louise Hammond, Chelsea Barnowich, and Danny Carlisle, respectively. Their approval on December 5, 2025, is only the first step in a rigorous process.
The Uphill Battle for Organizers
For the recall efforts to succeed, organizers face a formidable challenge. They must now recruit eligible voters from within each riding as canvassers. These canvassers will have 90 days to collect signatures from residents who have lived in the constituency for at least three months.
The threshold for success is exceptionally high: petitioners must gather signatures from 60 per cent of the voters who cast a ballot in the last election in that riding. All signature sheets and witness affidavits must be submitted to Elections Alberta by March 5, 2026.
Following submission, the electoral agency will have 21 days to verify the petitions, with results announced a week later.
Mounting Pressure on the UCP Government
This latest approval brings the total number of active recall petitions in Alberta to more than 18. The list of targeted officials is extensive and includes several high-profile cabinet ministers such as Demetrios Nicolaides, Rajan Sawhney, and Searle Turton. Speaker Ric McIver is also facing a potential recall.
Perhaps most notably, Postmedia learned this week that a petition to recall Premier Danielle Smith has also been approved by the Chief Electoral Officer, though it has not been officially announced. The cumulative effect of these petitions presents a clear political threat. If multiple recalls were to succeed, they could erase the UCP's majority in the legislature, creating a potential constitutional crisis.
The recall mechanism itself is a product of legislation introduced by the former UCP government under Jason Kenney. It allows any Albertan to apply for a petition if they believe their elected representative has failed to uphold their responsibilities.
The coming months will be a critical test of both the government's stability and the practical viability of Alberta's recall law, as citizens mobilize in an unprecedented attempt to hold their representatives directly accountable.
