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By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

Looking back

Year-in-Review: Red Deer-South MLA Jason Stephan opines on recall, independence, plus tackling downtown and shelter issues

Dec 27, 2025 | 8:00 AM

Red Deer-South MLA Jason Stephan remains fairly confident in his job as MLA, and the likelihood — or lack thereof — of a recall petition against him succeeding.

In a recent year-end interview, Stephan said he likes accountability, and claims he talked about the need for more of that throughout his run as a UCP MLA.

“I have no problem with recall, and you need to walk the talk. If the great people of Red Deer feels it’s time to change MLA, that’s fine. I have predicted it will fail, but I don’t mind the recall accountability mechanism at all,” he said.

“I do think it’s a little bit too easy to start a recall petition, but it’s also probably a little bit too hard to actually achieve it. I think the results will speak for themselves.”

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One line in the petition applicant’s explanation notes Stephan’s alleged support for a separatist agenda.

Stephan noted that he’s publicly encouraged a referendum on independence.

He’s asked if he supports seeing one based on Thomas Lukaszuk’s ‘Forever Canadian’ petition question, or if he’d rather see one based around the question asked by the known separatist movement.

The difference being:

“Do you agree that Alberta should remain within Canada?” -Thomas Lukaszuk, Forever Canadian

vs.

“Do you agree that the province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state?” -Mitch Sylvestre, Alberta Prosperity Project

Lukaszuk has also opined that Albertans have spoken through his petition which garnered 404,293 verified signatures, far more than the 293,976 he was required to obtain. That also represents nearly 14 per cent of the electorate.

Lukaszuk says therefore MLAs should hold a vote in the legislature based on his question, so Albertans can see where their elected officials stand.

“Thomas Lukaszuk’s petition has met the threshold, so that should be addressed. If there are others that meet the threshold on whatever subject, I think it’s very healthy and good for Albertans to have a discussion about it in the public square, and to vote on it. Voting is a very good thing,” he said.

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“I would like Albertans to have a vote on whichever petitions meet the threshold,” he said, adding he doesn’t prefer either version of the independence-related petition questions.

“I also think many good people who signed Thomas Lukaszuk’s petition did it under the understanding there was going to be a referendum vote if the petition was successful. That’s what was presented to Albertans and I think that needs to be taken into account in terms of respecting the Citizen Initiative Act.”

Stephan also serves as parliamentary secretary for constitutional affairs, and says he’s excited about the Citizen Initiative Act, which is the legislation that even allows for these petitions.

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He said the legislation serves as a check and balance, allowing Albertans to speak up and discuss matters in public, which is valuable and good, he added.

As for Red Deer-South, Stephan calls the $1.8 billion hospital redevelopment project “transformative” and something that will “bless generations.”

“It helps correct decades of unfairness to central Alberta, and it’ll help improve health outcomes,” he said.

Stephan also feels positive about Red Deer’s transition away from the “NDP drug site,” referring of course to the formerly Turning Point, then AHS and finally Recovery Alberta-operated overdose prevention site (OPS).

He also says it’ll be a good thing to see a change in operator at the local homeless shelter.

“What I think still remains somewhat of a challenge is some of the drugs and disorder in our downtown. Red Deer has a lot of great natural advantages and sometimes the crime, in particular in that area, has overshadowed Red Deer as really being truly what it is, which is a great place to live, grow business, to raise a family, and work,” he said.

“I am optimistic we’ll see some very positive developments in 2026 in this regard.”

Stephan believes to accomplish some of that, the law needs to be enforced.

Asked what he means by that, Stephan said he’d like to see an improved culture in terms of providing shelter services,

“I’d like to see our shelter have a culture of hope, and what I mean by that is individuals who are in a position where they need to access shelter, they can have culture and opportunities to progress towards greater self-reliance — then, as required, recovery.”

He also wants to see lower property taxes, but credits council for their work in the recent budget discussions.