Referendums a Must for Alberta: UCP's Own Law Says So

Calgary, listen up! Despite attempts to curb its budget, Elections Alberta confirms that referendums are legally mandated and must proceed. Alberta’s chief electoral officer, Gordon McClure, issued a clear directive: current legislation prevents any interruption, delay, or prohibition of verification activities. This means Elections Alberta cannot skirt the necessary costs to carry out its duties.

This development comes as Calgary’s political landscape is buzzing with activity. Several recall petitions are currently underway across the province, including attempts to recall Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides and Airdrie-East MLA Angela Pitt in the Calgary area. The United Conservative Party itself secured a near-sweep of Calgary seats in 2019, highlighting the region's importance.

Elections Alberta had initially requested a substantial $13.5 million in supplementary funding to manage the influx of citizen initiatives and recall petitions. However, a legislative committee with a UCP majority approved only about $1.5 million. McClure warned that without adequate funding, his office could be "unable to execute our mandate and duties prescribed in legislation." The UCP’s own Bill 54, passed in May 2025, dramatically lowered the threshold for citizen-initiated referendums, making them approximately 70% easier to trigger.