***Updated - Questions Raised About Petition Canvassing Restrictions at Medicine Hat Public Schools

The Owl received this press release; it has not been altered. We have reached out to Cypress - Medicine Hat MLA Justin Wright and MHPSD Board chair Catherine Wilson, their responses will be published when received. Catherine Wilson has responded, it is at the bottom of the article.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Questions Raised About Petition Canvassing Restrictions at Medicine Hat Public Schools

Medicine Hat, AB — Local parent and recall petition organizer Holly Turnbull is seeking clarity regarding communications between the Medicine Hat Public School Division (MHPSD) and the MLA for Cypress–Medicine Hat, Justin Wright, concerning petition canvassing on school property.

Holly Turnbull - Submitted Photo

In November 2025, Turnbull sought clarification from the MHPSD Board of Trustees about whether parents attending public school events could carry and collect signatures for lawful petitions. She was advised that parents could gather signatures provided that school staff were not promoting or soliciting the petition.

Based on that understanding, petition canvassing took place at public school events in the same manner that had previously occurred during the Alberta Funds Public Schools citizen initiative petition.

In January 2026, Turnbull was contacted by the MHPSD Board Chair regarding concerns about petition activity being publicized on social media. During that conversation, Turnbull says she was informed that communications had occurred between the Board Chair and MLA Wright regarding petition activity at schools. She says she was asked, as a courtesy, not to advertise canvassing activity on social media in order to avoid further negative consequences for the school division, and was advised that canvassing itself could continue on site. Turnbull says she requested copies of the email and text message communications referenced during that conversation.

When a response was not forthcoming, Turnbull submitted an Access to Information request for communications between MHPSD and the MLA’s office regarding petition activity on school property. When the records were partially released, the documents indicated that the Division had communicated to the MLA’s office that recall petition canvassing was not permitted on school property.

Turnbull says she was shocked by this information, as this position had not been communicated to her. After requesting further clarification, a written response stating that recall petition canvassing cannot occur on school property was only received on March 12, 2026.

“Throughout this process my goal has simply been to ensure that volunteers participating in lawful democratic processes have clear and consistent guidance,” said Turnbull. “Public institutions play an important role in protecting democratic participation, and clarity around those rules matters. It is disappointing that after interactions with MLA Wright a decision was made to prohibit canvassing on site.”

Turnbull says she has also requested clarification from the Division as to whether this restriction applies only to recall petitions or to all citizen initiative petitions, including the Water Not Coal petition currently circulating in Alberta. To date, no response has been offered.

According to the Division’s response to the Access to Information request, text messages between MLA Wright and the MHPSD Board Chair were not included in the released records because they were located on a personal device. Turnbull has filed a request for review with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta and has also provided information to Elections Alberta regarding the matter.

“The issue here is not about any one petition,” Turnbull said. “It is about ensuring that the rules governing democratic participation are clear, transparent, and applied consistently.”

Turnbull says she will continue to seek clarification to ensure that volunteers participating in lawful petition processes understand where canvassing is permitted.

The Recall Justin Wright petition closes on March 23, 2026 and those interested in signing can find the last remaining signing events by visiting www.recalljustinwrightnow.ca.

Response From MHPSD Chair Catherine Wilson

Medicine Hat Public School Division is aware of the statements that have been circulated regarding petition canvassing on school division property.

School division property is not available for political canvassing unless it has been approved by the School Board or the Superintendent. When the matter was first raised, it was described as advocacy in support of public education funding. As the situation evolved and recall petition activity began being promoted and organized on school division property, the division clarified that this type of canvassing had not been approved and therefore could not occur at school events.

As a public education institution, the division must remain non-partisan and ensure that school facilities are used in ways that are consistent with our policies and responsibilities. The division’s priority is maintaining respectful, neutral learning environments for students and staff. 

Questions regarding how this approach applies to other citizen initiative petitions will be reviewed by the Board and administration to ensure that the policy is applied consistently moving forward.