Recall, Revolt, and Reversals: Alberta's UCP Government Fights for Survival
Alberta’s political theatre has escalated from a drama to a full-blown crisis, and the audience is now storming the stage.
The province is witnessing an unprecedented convergence of citizen-led action and mounting labour unrest, all set against a backdrop of a government that appears to be rethinking its own rules now that the shoe is on the other foot.
“Dump Dani” seen near Deerfoot Trail in Calgary Alberta, Nov 2025
Medicine Hat protests against the UCP and Premier Danielle Smith started in February outside Premier Smith’s constituency office in Crescent Heights. Many of these protesters went on to help with the Forever Canada petition and now the Alberta Funds Education petition.
The fuse for this explosion was lit by the "Forever Canada" petition. Conceived by former PC Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk, this grassroots effort to affirm Alberta’s place in Canada achieved the impossible. Needing roughly 300,000 signatures under the province's own stringent Citizen Initiative Petition legislation, Lukaszuk’s army of over 6,000 volunteers collected over 450,000. The operation was so successful it overwhelmed Elections Alberta, which asked for $13.5 million to manage the process as well as the potential recall petitions - 2 have been approved - so far. The UCP government offered a paltry $1 million, an early sign it wasn't thrilled with citizens using the democratic tools it created.
That success became a blueprint for rebellion. While separate, the new "Operation Total Recall"campaign is powered by the same grassroots energy and organizational know-how. They have targeted 13 additional UCP MLAs, including Premier Danielle Smith herself. The goal is to recall the 44 MLAs who voted to use the Notwithstanding Clause against not just teachers, but all Alberta workers.
The campaign’s dashboard shows the battle lines are drawn:
Currently Gathering Signatures:
Hon. Demetrios Nicolaides (Calgary-Bow): 16,006 signatures required.
Angela D. Pitt (Airdrie-East): 14,813 signatures required.
With Paperwork Submitted (Awaiting Green Light):
A lineup of nine UCP MLAs including Rajan Sawhney and Ric McIver.
Here’s where the political calculus gets terrifying for the UCP. The current seat count in Alberta is 49 for the UCP and 38 for the NDP. If recall campaigns are successful in flipping just six UCP seats, it would trigger a change in government. This isn't just a protest; it's a viable path to toppling the ruling party.
In a stunning about-face, the UCP, which championed recall legislation when in opposition, is now reportedly considering doing away with the ability to recall MLAs altogether. It seems the government's commitment to grassroots accountability only extends as far as the grassroots agrees with them.
But why is everyone so furious? Look no further than the education sector. While teachers were striking over crippling class sizes, the UCP government’s revolutionary solution was to form a committee. This from the same government that conveniently stopped tracking class size data in 2019 and has only recently, and reluctantly, started again.
The pièce de résistance was using the Constitution’s nuclear option—the notwithstanding clause—to force teachers back to work. And in a move of truly impeccable timing, the vote was held while Premier Smith was en route to schmooze with the Saudis and open a government office in Abu Dhabi. Many constituents in Brooks-Medicine Hat are wondering if she's spent more time in Saudi Arabia—a nation not famous for its workers' rights or egalitarian values—than in her own riding.
This heavy-handed tactic has lit a fuse under the entire Alberta labour movement. The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) representing LPNs and health care aides has voted to strike with a 98% mandate, and the Alberta Federation of Labour is coordinating with 31 unions, with the once-unthinkable threat of a general strike now being openly discussed.
The real chill, however, comes from the precedent of wielding the notwithstanding clause so casually. If the government can use it to swat aside teachers' Charter rights, who's next? The growing and terrifyingly open secret is that this UCP government is widely expected to use this tool to override the rights of the transgender and LGBTQ2S+ communities whenever it becomes politically convenient.
So, to recap: A government facing a citizen-led recall campaign that could mathematically unseat it is now considering scrapping the recall law to save its own skin. It’s provoking a historic labour revolt while its premier jets off to nations with dubious human rights records. This isn’t just a political battle; it’s a full-scale stress test of Alberta’s democracy, and the UCP is desperately trying to rewrite the rules mid-game.
Recall Petitions Approved
Demetrios Nicolaides
Angela Pitt
Operation Total Recall Website
Current Citizen Initiative Petitions
Forever Canada is in the verification period
Alberta Funds Public Schools is collecting signatures
