Omg bestie, buckle UP because Alberta politics is, like, in its absolute messy era right now — and Danielle Smith is literally at the centre of a whole recall tornado that’s giving main character energy, but, like, in the worst way.
So basically, Elections Alberta was like “yaaas we’re approving this recall petition,” and suddenly Premier Danielle Smith is out here fighting for her seat like it’s a Black Friday door-crasher. And the iconic twist? The legislation being used against her is literally the Union Conservative Party’s own law. Like girl… imagine inventing a boomerang and then acting shocked when it hits you in the face.
The petition comes from Heather Van Snick — who basically said, “umm, hi, Danielle doesn’t even live here and acts like a stranger in her own riding.” And honestly? Savage. Petitioners now have three whole months to collect 12,000+ signatures (aka 60% of the 2023 votes in Brooks–Medicine Hat), and if they get them? Boom. Recall vote. And if she loses? Bye-e-eee seat, hello by-election chaos.
But this isn’t even just about Smith. Like, 20 OTHER Members of the Legislative Assembly — almost all UCP — are currently facing recall petitions. It’s giving “season finale purge energy.” Even Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides got targeted first after that wild teachers’ strike that, btw, kept 700,000 students home for weeks. Parents were losing it, teachers were losing it, and the government was like, “let’s use the notwithstanding clause twice in a month because why not.” Alberta said separation of powers? Never heard of her.
And because drama attracts more drama, the Chief Electoral Officer was ALSO out here waving a big red flag this week. Gordon McClure literally wrote a spicy, sharply worded letter like, “hey… this bill you’re pushing? It gives the justice minister my job? Maybe don’t?” He also said the changes would destroy trust in elections and give off total partisan vibes. And like… when the guy in charge of elections is basically yelling “this is bad!!!” maybe listen??
Meanwhile Smith is alleging unions are trying to overthrow her government — but most petition organizers were like, “lol no actually we’re just mad.” And the UCP was totally hinting they’d tweak the recall rules because petitions are coming in like influencer PR packages, but then decided nope, keeping it as is. Chaos but make it legislative.
Then there’s the referendum law changes, which were so dramatic a judge literally said the government was acting “cavalier” and disrespecting the courts. Alberta really woke up this month and chose telenovela.
So yeah, sis — Danielle Smith is fighting petitions, unions, teachers, angry parents, judges, and now her own recall law. Alberta politics is literally a live-streamed group chat meltdown, and honestly? I’m grabbing popcorn.
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
Your chaos-loving, drama-spilling Correspondent
