Kenney says recall law was meant for “egregious” misconduct, not political battles

December 5, 2025

RED FM News Desk

The architect of Alberta’s recall legislation says the law was never intended to be used as a political weapon, but rather as an “ultimate tool of accountability” for cases of illegal or grossly unethical behaviour.

Former premier Jason Kenney shared the comments in an interview Thursday as 14 United Conservative caucus members now face recall petitions launched by citizens frustrated with recent government decisions. The petitions rely on legislation Kenney’s government introduced when he was Alberta’s first UCP premier.

“My government purposely set very high thresholds,” Kenney said. “Frankly, we replicated the thresholds developed in British Columbia in 1991 under an NDP government to ensure there’s a really broad public demand for a byelection. We have it as an ultimate tool of accountability if a politician does something absolutely egregious, illegal, grossly unethical.”

Kenney emphasized that the recall process was never designed for policy disputes.

“You get a shot at your MLAs or MPs once every four years in a general election,” he said. “If you have policy differences, that’s where to settle that.”