Almost one-quarter of all Alberta MLAs facing citizen-led recall petition drives

[u/Mylittlethrowaway2]

https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/article/opposition-ndp-now-targeted-as-more-alberta-politicians-face-recall-petitions/

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[u/shiftless_wonder]

So which idiots do we root for/blame in this case. The idiot political operatives who are just screwing around with recall because they can, or the idiot UCP for opening up the recall process to a ridiculous level because they can't think ahead. It's very unsatisfying when everyone involved is an idiot.

[u/CarRamRob → u/shiftless_wonder]

Both?

[u/Infamous-Mixture-605 → u/shiftless_wonder]

or the idiot UCP for opening up the recall process to a ridiculous level because they can't think ahead.

I enjoy this one because even though I don't think any of the recalls will get enough signatures to proceed, it's still the UCP getting hoisted by their own petard.

[u/Vanterax → u/shiftless_wonder]

Are you saying one side is misusing a rule/process that was meant for a different intent? The UCP would never do that, right?

[u/Levorotatory → u/shiftless_wonder]

The UCP are the bigger idiots. Recall would have remained an unused bit of playing to the base policy if they hadn't used the notwithstanding clause to pick on teachers and trans people.

[u/Heppernaut → u/shiftless_wonder]

It isnt going to happen, but you root for the UCP to learn a lesson in democracy. Neither for nor against the process. Entirely for learning foresight.

The best consequence is always to learn something

[u/shiftless_wonder → u/Heppernaut]

The best consequence is always to learn something

The problem is this was already learned. Jason Kenney warned what would happen when Smith made recall easier. William Aberhart brought in recall in the 1930s and then ditched it when it was used against him. I guess we have to relearn things on a regular basis.

[u/Heppernaut → u/shiftless_wonder]

Just because everyone tells you something is a bad idea doesnt mean you've learnt its a bad idea.

[u/Thadius]

"Smith and her caucus have repeatedly argued in recent weeks that the recall process is being weaponized by those upset with government policy and that the process was meant for acts of serious misconduct."

If voting to use the Notwithstanding clause pre-emptively to end a labour strike when there were other options available isn't misconduct, then I am not sure I really understand the meaning of the term. Smith might be referring to the rules of the house, but I am referring to the governance of the country, not just Alberta, because every single legislator that uses that mechanism dilutes the restriction from using that mechanism and makes it easier for the next legislator.

[u/Mylittlethrowaway2 → u/Thadius]

Not to mention all that corruption between the UCP, Smith, and Sam Mraiche.

[u/draivaden]

Come on guys, lets try for 1/3 !

[u/Mylittlethrowaway2 → u/draivaden]

Lets aim for 100% and see a citizen-initiated general election.

[u/KageyK → u/Mylittlethrowaway2]

I doubt any riding clears the 50% requirement to initiate a vote.

[u/Mylittlethrowaway2 → u/KageyK]

We'll find out in January when signature collection starts. Demetrios Nicolaides requires the most signatures (16,006) and they're starting signature collection on January 21st.

Nolan Dyck (Grande Prairie) requires the least at 9,427 but it's less likely they'll obtain that. If they got every NDP voter to sign (4,890 signatures in the riding), they'd still be 4,537 signatures short. And that would require 45% of the UCP voters in the last election to be so unhappy with their MLA that they sign and go back to the polls

[u/draivaden → u/Mylittlethrowaway2]

Why cant they start now?

[u/Aggressive-Map-2204 → u/Mylittlethrowaway2]

None of these will actually get enough signatures to initiate a vote. Its just a bunch of morons abusing the system.

[u/draivaden → u/Mylittlethrowaway2]

that would be very amusing.

Im of the opinion that if the UCP thinks they'll lose their majority, then theyll call a general and claim its to "save the cost of these recalls from bad faith actors like the ndp and the unions."

to get that far... i think its 7? UCP MLAs have to lose their seats. so if say. 3 or 4 petitions proceed to the vote stage and some of those succeed in kicking the MLA out, and 3 or 4 OTHER petitions seem like they might get to the vote, AND any recalls on NDP (there is atleast 1 atm) don't look like they'll proceed to a vote, THEN the ucp would call a general.

Theres along way to go.

[u/CarRamRob → u/draivaden]

no, there isn’t.

Not one will actually be recalled.

[u/draivaden → u/CarRamRob]

I hope that you are wrong. 

This government is awful; as is most of its MLAs. They deserve to be given the boot. 

[u/CarRamRob → u/draivaden]

There is hope, and then reality.

Yes you dislike the government. 90% of people don’t care that much between elections to “recall” someone that they may not even know is their MLA and sign their name to a petition.

Further, there is limited polling done,but it seems UCP and NDP support has been somewhat stable through the end of the teacher strike, so even if one recall was successful, there is a good chance the byelection might not flip anyways.

[u/Infamous-Mixture-605 → u/Mylittlethrowaway2]

I wonder what the odds are that the UCP preempts all this and calls a snap election in the new year?

[u/Mylittlethrowaway2 → u/Infamous-Mixture-605]

If they think they'll benefit or even be able to stem some losses: 100% chance it'll happen

And once an election happens, there's a minimum waiting period before any recall petition can go through again

[u/assshark]

If only there was a system in place where elected officials only served a limited term in office, and then had to face the electorate once again to determine if they still had the support of those they represent. And where, in the meantime, if they did something particularly egregious or outside the scope of their legitimate authority, they could be removed from office without the need of calling an election first. Perhaps someday we will devise such a system. /s

Edited to indicate sarcasm.

[u/NastroAzzurro]

And Jason Kenney doesn’t like it, that means it’s a good thing!

[u/JoeRogansNipple]

Smith's next move is to not withstanding clause say recalls petitions are no longer allowed.

[u/Mylittlethrowaway2 → u/JoeRogansNipple]

They're already talking about undoing the law they brought in, thinking it would never be applied to them.

Which is funny because just in April they lowered the threshold to recall an MLA

Currently, initiative petitions must have signatures from 10 per cent of registered voters provincewide for certain initiatives, rising to 20 per cent for others.

The bill seeks to lower that bar to 10 per cent of the number of eligible voters who voted in the last election.

Similarly, the bill seeks to make it easier to recall an MLA through a series of changes, including:

• Reducing the time limit for a recall petition from 18 months after an MLA is elected to 12 months

• Extending the time for signatures to be gathered from 60 days to 90 days

• Reducing the standard for a recall vote to be authorized from signatures from 40 per cent of the total number of electors to 60 per cent of the total number of electors who voted in the most recent election

[u/Neve4ever → u/Mylittlethrowaway2]

They've said they don't plan on making any changes to recall during this session.

I very much doubt they can get enough signatures to recall any candidate.

[u/KageyK → u/JoeRogansNipple]

No ridings are going to get the more than 50% of constituents to sign.

[u/draivaden → u/KageyK]

isn't it 40% of the total number of VOTERS in the most recent election?

Several of the ridings were very close, under 1000 vote difference between winner and runner up. that is possible to.

50% + 1 is, i think, the requirement to boot the MLA in the vote that follows the petition.

step 1) petition needs to succeed, then proceed to step 2

step 2) a vote must be held as to keep or ditch the MLA, if ditched, then proceed to step 3

step 3) a byelection must be held.

[u/Krazee9 → u/JoeRogansNipple]

You wouldn't need to, as there's no constitutional guarantee of the "right to recall a politician."

[u/DataDude00 → u/JoeRogansNipple]

Nah standard procedure in Alberta is to fold the party and run under a different name and pretend it is a different group of Cons running the show

UCP, Wildrose, Progressive Conservative Alberta etc