Danielle Smith has returned from her trade mission to the country that is almost single-handedly responsible for every major oil price downturn in the province’s history: Saudi Arabia. It’s the same country that Donald Trump reportedly pressured to lower oil prices. Whenever I hear of coincidences in politics I’m reminded of that time someone told me “there are no coincidences in politics.”
As I listen to and post about Alberta’s Question Period, I have convinced myself that there is actually a benefit to following along: I feel like it’s the place where the governing party throws out commentary aiming for sound bites and, if they’re lucky, something they can really sing their teeth into. Everyone except Minister of Hospital and Health Services Matt Jones, that is. He not only answers questions without being unnecessarily hostile but genuinely seems to care about taking the opposition’s concerns into consideration. It’s a lovely break for me during… the rest of it.
On Wednesday, however, the Premier offered a little taste of a new narrative that was delectable enough to get its own mention: recall legislation is being used to “overthrow the government”.
Well, yes, Premier, that’s precisely what the legislation was created to do: protect conservative Alberta in case the NDP ever formed government again.
It’s the reason why there are absolutely no guard rails to the legislation; because it was not intended to be a shining example of legislative prowess, it was simply because Albertans “accidentally” elected a non-conservative party and while they had the numbers to fight back, they had no democratically viable recourse.
No one wanted “rules”. “Rules” might restrict conservative supporters to unfair hurdles like “reasons” for wanting to recall MLAs that pushed past the intensively triggering issue at hand; there’s a non-conservative government in the conservative heartland of Alberta!
KCCO v FAFO
The NDP’s single term in government was pretty unremarkable— if you can forget about conservative knee-jerk, reactionary hissy fits. And to anyone who wants to pipe up about an oil price downturn, I will refer you to the UCP’s commentary on the subject, courtesy of the 2025 Throne Speech:
Albertans are well aware of the effects of both high and low oil prices and inherently understand there is no need to panic or overreact. This isn’t Alberta’s first oil price rollercoaster, after all.
The vast majority of Albertans do not want deep and disruptive cuts. Nor do they want declarations of economic emergency used as a pretext for a proliferation of government programs and spending.
They want calm, steady and smart fiscal leadership until the dip in energy prices inevitably passes, as it always does.
Speech from the Throne, Economy and Budget, October 23, 2025
See? Losing billions we rely on to fund public services is no big deal. Conservatives said so, therefore it is so; I don’t make the rules.
After the naturally victorious sign colour was returned to government in 2019, Alberta conservatives were determined to ensure that no democratically-elected non-conservative government could ever cause them such emotional and spiritual pain again.
Instead of being “humble” or reflective in any way, the newly-formed United Conservative government came in like a wrecking ball in 2019, repealing every piece of legislation the NDP had passed. As it turned out, they even had to reinstate some of it because it wasn’t actually all bad, but it was NDP which was more than the conservatives of the day could handle. Sigh.
(On June 17, 2021) Alberta’s UCP government introduced, debated and passed a piece of legislation called the Recall Act that allows Albertans to kick out provincial politicians who have incurred the public’s wrath between elections.
“This is one of the most important democratic reforms since our province was founded,” said Premier Jason Kenney in March 2021, giving an idea of just how vital this law was to him and his UCP compatriots.
“At the end of the day, ordinary Alberta voters are the boss in our democracy, and if they lose faith in their elected representatives, they can hold them to account in between elections.”
…
Although the Recall Act had been passed by a majority vote in the legislative assembly and became a law last June, it was not “proclaimed in force.” Put another way, the government has not given a date on which the law is to take effect.
Perhaps Jason Kenney had some inkling at the time that this legislation could be used against the very people who wanted it. Or maybe he felt the hair on his neck stand up when he realized it could be used against him. Mr. Kenney never struck me as someone who was not politically savvy, generally, even if he did seem to be meticulously setting the stage for his own downfall. I knew who he was getting into bed with (politically speaking, let me assure you) and I am confident he did, too, even though I think he was doing his best to convince himself he could control what he had created.
Jason Kenney resigned as Premier less than three weeks after Mr. Thompson’s article, upon receiving only 51.4 per cent support in his party’s leadership review. His Recall Act, along with the Citizen’s Initiative Act was ”proclaimed in force” afterwards. Danielle Smith introduced legislation on April 29, 2025, the Election Statutes Amendment Act, which reduced the number of signatures one had to collect for each, and increased the time allotted to collect them.
Tuesday’s proposed bill will change citizen-initiated referendum rules to require a petition signed by only 10 per cent of the eligible voters in a previous general election — down from 20 per cent of registered voters. Applicants would also get 120 days, rather than 90, to collect the signatures.
I have a theory that this legislative change was also in response to the conservative-affiliated attempt to recall Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek, but it’s just a theory.
By the bye, how does that shoe feel on the other foot?
I wouldn’t even try to pretend that I’m not enjoying some sweet, and savoury, schadenfreude. Basking, even… until I feel like I need to parent the situation.
That Danielle Smith and her caucus are only now coming to the realization that bad legislation can bite them in the ass is almost comical. Almost. To me, it’s the most basic consideration one should have in creating laws: would I support this if the opposition did it? How is this even a question I need to ask??? Still?
I realize that Alberta has a history of electing dynasties but history has also proven they don’t last forever. The recall legislation needed guardrails but the government of the day was so blinded by “getting back at” an electoral outcome they didn’t like that they refused to consider what might protect them. They were “united”, after all, and nothing (but a fiscally indecent and irresponsibly ideological party) could stop them.
If you wouldn’t support the opposition doing it, you shouldn’t be doing it. It’s the most basic and fundamental thing we learn as humans. “How do you like it when it happens to you?” No? You don’t? Then don’t do it to someone else.
Grow up. You’re the freaking government and you need to think beyond your damned out of joint noses.
Also, do not make me turn this car around; I’m really not in the mood.
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The UCP are a miserable trifecta of corruption, ineptness and unkindness...and they haven't hit bottom yet.
Does "hoisted on their own petard" work here?
As much as I enjoy watching them squirm, I'm left feeling uneasy. It's terrible legislation, just awful and turning it on its creators doesn't make it any less awful.