What is a recall?

The Recall Act (Bill 52) gives Albertans a way to remove elected officials they feel are not upholding their responsibilities. Albertans who feel concern, anxiety, fear, or that their elected MLA is not upholding their responsibilities within their constituency are permitted to request a recall petition via Bill 52. 

If approved, the applicant or applicants have 60 days to gather signatures from 40% of eligible voters in that constituency. If the petition is successful, a recall vote must occur. If the recall vote is successful, the official ceases to hold office and a by-election must be held.

Exact act wording:  "A successful petition will contain valid signatures from 40% of the total number of electors on the post-election day list of electors for the electoral division named in the recall petition."

Why hold a recall?

A recall provides a legal, democratic mechanism by which constituents can replace an unresponsive MLA to an MLA who focuses on the needs of the constituents. Although we can wait for the proposed election in 2027, there is a way to circumvent this delay, and the ongoing destruction by the UCP. BILL 52 IS YOUR RIGHT. 

Who can request a recall? Why doesn’t ABR just do the recall?

Bill 52 states that a recall application must be submitted by a resident of the constituency. Our board of directors are located all around the province and we can only act within our own constituencies. We cannot apply for recall in a constituency where we do not live.

When can an application be made?

An application may be made during the MLA’s term in office except:

• within the 18-month period immediately following the day on which the MLA was elected,
• within the 6-month period before the fixed election day, or
• if another application for recall for that electoral division has been issued or published by the Chief Electoral Officer.

The application period for this current term, opened November 29, 2024!
What does a recall involve?

--> Understand the Criteria: In Alberta, there are specific criteria that must be met for a recall petition to be initiated. If an Albertan feels the MLA in their constituency is not upholding their responsibilities, they can apply to the Chief Electoral Officer for a petition to recall that elected official.

--> Form a Petition Committee: The first recommended step is to form a petition committee. This Committee will be responsible for organizing and overseeing the petition process. The Committee should consist of residents who support the recall effort and are willing to dedicate time and effort to the cause. The Committee should identify who will submit the Application for Recall Petition (the “Applicant”) and who will act as Chief Financial Officer for the Recall Petition.

--> Apply for a Recall Petition: 

    The following is mandatory for a Recall Petition Application:

1. Recall Petition Application Form form must be filled out by the applicant. 
2. The Notice of Recall Petition requires the applicant to provide a statement of 200 words or less stating the reason for the recall. Elections Alberta uses an electronic word count feature and will deny submissions with more than 200 words. The Notice of Recall Petition will be made public and must be reviewed by all electors signing the petition. 
3. Authorized ID demonstrating the elector’s identity and address within the electoral division.
4. Appointment of Chief Financial Officer: a signed statement identifying the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the petition, providing the CFO’s residential address (including postal code, and mailing address if different from the residential address), phone number, and e-mail address.   Sample - Appointment of Chief Financial Officer  
5. The $500 application fee, paid by cash, a certified cheque and/or bank or postal money order made payable to “Government of Alberta”

Sample - Recall Petition Application Form

--> Recall Petition: Once the application has been approved, the applicant will be provided with the petition signature sheets and witness affidavits in the format that must be used. Signatures collected on other forms will not be accepted. The applicant is responsible to make copies of the forms. 

Sample - Notice of Recall Petition

--> Signature Canvassers: The applicant must register every individual that they wish to canvass on their behalf. Canvassers must be electors that have lived in the electoral division in the previous 3-month period prior to canvassing. 

--> Collect Signatures: The petition committee must collect signatures from eligible electors in the constituency. In Alberta, only eligible electors who are registered to vote in the constituency can sign the recall petition. Application to Canvass for a Recall Petition must be submitted to Elections Alberta along with a copy of Authorized Identification for that canvasser. The average constituency is made up of 34,000 electorate. Let’s break that down to approximately 10,000 single voter residences, and 12,000 residences with 2 voters. Total: 22,000 doors to knock on. Intimidating?

Let’s break that down even further:

80 canvassers - each person would have to knock on 275 doors

40 canvassers - 550 doors

25 canvassers - 880 doors

- over 60 days!

A canvasser can knock on 60-70 doors in a 4 hour shift. We know this because we’ve done it! 

--> Requirements for Signatures: 

1. Print legibly their surname and given names
2. Supply the physical address where they ordinarily reside at the time of signing
3. Provide their telephone number and/or email address
4. Confirm that they are an elector, residing within the division for the previous 3 months
5. Date on which they signed the petition
6. All signatures must be captured within the 60 day canvassing period

--> Submit the Petition: Once enough signatures have been collected, the petition must be submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer of Alberta. The petition committee should ensure that all required documentation is included and that the petition meets the necessary criteria.

--> Verification Process: The Chief Electoral Officer will verify the signatures on the petition to ensure they meet the requirements. This process may take some time, and the petition committee should be prepared to provide any additional information or documentation as requested.

--> Public Notice: If the petition is deemed valid, a public notice will be issued, and a recall vote will be scheduled. The MLA targeted for recall will have an opportunity to respond to the allegations before the recall vote takes place.

--> Recall Vote: A recall vote will be held, allowing eligible electors in the constituency to vote on whether to recall the MLA. If the majority of voters support the recall, the MLA's seat will become vacant, triggering a by-election to fill the vacancy.

What if the recall fails?

There is a possibility that a recall will fail in many constituencies in Alberta. However, in other constituencies - particularly those in Calgary and Lethbridge - the sitting MLA won by a miniscule margin. This minimal number - a few hundred in most cases - can be swayed via suitable promotion and education within the community ahead of recall byelection.

How can you trust that the residents of these constituencies will vote against their MLA?

We can’t. But we believe that many Albertans believe in bringing decency back to politics, that they seek a peaceful and collaborative democratic process, and are not swayed by the extreme right wing christo fascism and conspiracy theories espoused by the current UCP caucus.

How do you define “upholding their responsibilities”?

According to the Alberta legislature website, “The role of an MLA includes many different roles and responsibilities. Representing constituents in the Assembly is arguably the most visible aspect of the job, but MLAs invest countless hours in the communities they serve and advocate on behalf of Albertans through many channels.

On any given day an MLA may speak in the Assembly, meet with community representatives in their constituency, study background on an issue, facilitate complex policy discussions, deliver remarks as a guest speaker, troubleshoot negotiations and act as a goodwill ambassador for their constituency, the Legislative Assembly and the Province of Alberta.

Constituents are all people living within the electoral boundaries of a constituency, including those who voted in the last election, regardless of their chosen candidate, those who didn’t vote and even those who are not eligible to vote.

There are many MLAs in Alberta constituencies who have failed to meet these guidelines. AB Resistance is here to provide evidence for each MLA as requested by the constituents to help streamline their recall application process.

Does Smith need to be removed from her constituency for this to work?

No. 

Is this legal?

Yes. What if I want to hold a recall initiative in my constituency?

Awesome! First things first: contact us. We will help you to develop a specific strategy and timeline for your constituency. And starting right now, you can do these tasks to get ready for success: 

• Inform and Educate: Start by informing your neighbors about the reasons for the recall petition and why it's important for them to get involved. Provide factual information about any misconduct or incompetence by the MLA and explain how it impacts the community.
• Engage in Conversations: Have one-on-one conversations with your neighbors to discuss the issues and answer any questions they may have. Listen to their concerns and address them respectfully. Personal interactions can be more persuasive than impersonal communication methods.
• Host Community Meetings: Organize community meetings or gatherings where you can discuss the recall petition in more detail. Invite neighbors to participate and share their perspectives. Use this opportunity to build consensus and rally support for the petition.
• Distribute Informational Materials: Create flyers, brochures, or posters that outline the reasons for the recall petition and how neighbors can get involved. Distribute these materials in your neighborhood or community centers where they are likely to reach a wide audience. Make sure the information is clear, concise, and easy to understand.
• Utilize Social Media: Use social media platforms to spread the word about the recall petition. Share information, updates, and relevant news articles related to the petition. Encourage your neighbors to share these posts with their networks to reach a broader audience.
• Organize Petition Signing Events: Host petition signing events in your neighborhood or community where residents can come together to sign the petition. Provide a convenient location and make sure to have the petition and necessary documentation available for signing. 
• Create a Sense of Urgency: Emphasize the importance of acting quickly and decisively to address the issues at hand. Highlight the potential impact of the MLA's actions on the community and stress the need for change.
• Lead by Example: Demonstrate your own commitment to the cause by being actively involved in the petition drive and encouraging others to join you. Your enthusiasm and dedication can inspire others to take action.
• Offer Assistance: Make it easy for your neighbors to participate in the petition process by offering assistance with signing the petition, answering questions, or providing any necessary information or resources.
• Respect Differences of Opinion: Remember that not everyone may agree with the recall petition, and that's okay. Respect the opinions of your neighbours, even if they differ from your own, and focus on building constructive dialogue and understanding.
• Be Inclusive: Welcome supporters of the NDP, AP and Liberal parties as well as former UCP supporters. We are united in our concern for what the UCP is doing to our province period. It doesn't matter if someone supported the UCP in the past, we welcome their fellowship to turn this ship around.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Does the Recall CFO need to reside in the Recall constituency? Yes, the Recall CFO does need to also reside in the Recall constituency. The CFO does not have to be an accountant and can be the same person as the Recall Petitioner.