Grassroots Anger Fuels Recall of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith
Dec 13 2025 outside Danielle Smith’s satellite constituency office in Medicine Hat - credit Kelly Allard
MEDICINE HAT, AB – A campaign to recall Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is being powered by a level of grassroots anger and organization not seen in the province for nearly a decade, with volunteers braving freezing temperatures and investing personal funds in a historic political challenge.
The movement draws direct parallels to the public sentiment that swept the New Democratic Party (NDP) to a surprise majority government in 2015. That election upended four decades of Conservative rule and occurred when the further-right Wild Rose Party, then led by Danielle Smith, split the vote. Smith later crossed the floor to join the Progressive Conservatives, and the parties eventually merged to form the current United Conservative Party (UCP).
A Volunteer Army Forged in Winter
The recall effort's backbone is its volunteers, who demonstrate remarkable commitment. Weekly protests have persisted since February, with about two dozen people gathering outside the Premier’s office this past Saturday in -20°C weather. New participants join regularly.
This visible determination is matched by organizational rigor. A recent strategy meeting in Medicine Hat implemented a strict mandatory “buddy system” for canvassers due to safety concerns, requiring fully charged phones and a policy to walk away from hostility.
The campaign is entirely volunteer-funded; supporters have personally paid for materials like $21 t-shirts, with all proceeds reimbursing those initial costs.
A Network with Proven Success
The campaign is bolstered by its connection to the organizers of the largest petition in Canadian history. The “Forever Canadian” petition, led by former PC Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk, collected over 450,000 signatures—far surpassing its 300,000 goal—with a network of over 10,000 volunteers.
Organizers confirm that many of these experienced canvassers are now joining the recall effort, creating a ready-made, province-wide volunteer army that significantly raises the campaign's operational capability.
The High-Stakes Political Calculus
The recall targets a premier leading a potentially vulnerable government. Currently, only 11 seats separate the UCP from the official opposition NDP; flipping just six would result in a change of government.
Paradoxically, even if the recall succeeds in collecting signatures from 60% of registered voters in the Brooks-Medicine Hat riding—a monumental task—Smith would only be removed as the MLA for that constituency. She would remain Premier unless her own party caucus forced her out, a scenario many supporters suspect would be the ultimate result of a successful recall vote.
A Test of a Law Never Used
The campaign operates under the Recall Act, a law the UCP government passed in 2021 and recently considered repealing before public backlash stopped them. This marks only the second attempt in a century to recall an Alberta premier, following a 1936 attempt against Social Credit Premier William Aberhart.
The primary grievances fueling the effort are the government's use of the Notwithstanding Clauseto pass contentious legislation and a list of policy decisions criticized by groups like the Alberta Branch of the Canadian Bar Association.
An Uphill Battle with Unpredictable Consequences
Volunteers face significant hurdles, including confusion over the Brooks-Medicine Hat electoral boundaries, which split the city of Medicine Hat along the South Saskatchewan River but also includes parts of the city south of the river. Every invalid signature over the 60% threshold jeopardizes the entire petition.
Yet, the combination of deep public anger, a large and experienced volunteer base, and a tight electoral landscape suggests this recall effort is more than a symbolic protest. It is a direct challenge to the Premier's authority that could reshape Alberta's political dynamics, regardless of the petition's final count.
(All photos below taken Dec 13 2025, photo credit Kelly Allard)
