(Image Credit: Supplied)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

organizer encouraged by campaign

“I know I’m not perfect”: Recall petition against Jason Stephan fails

Feb 27, 2026 | 1:36 PM

A recall petition launched three months ago aimed at unseating Red Deer-South UCP MLA Jason Stephan has failed.

To Stephan’s credit, that is as he predicted when interviewed last November.

The organizer, Nicole Green, had until Feb. 23 to collect 14,508 signatures. Initially, she cited what she called Stephan’s failure to prioritize the interests of Red Deerians, adding he is unresponsive to emails and calls, and noting his vote in favour of using the notwithstanding clause against Alberta teachers in 2025.

Green also noted last year Stephan’s alleged support of a separatist agenda.

In a letter to media, Green says she and volunteers collected more than 4,000 signatures. She notes this was done during some of the coldest months of the year, and still believes it speaks volumes about the level of dissatisfaction people feel toward Stephan.

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The number of signatures collected is yet to be verified by Alberta’s Chief Electoral Officer.

“Throughout this campaign, we heard a consistent message from residents: Red Deer wants an MLA who shows up to work, engages meaningfully with constituents, supports public education, public healthcare, human rights, and stands firmly against separatism. People want representation that reflects the values and priorities of our community,” Green writes.

“Despite efforts by the UCP to portray recalls negatively, our campaign experienced kindness, engagement, and a strong sense of community. The recall effort sparked meaningful conversations at doorsteps, in coffee shops, and at community events, connecting neighbours who care deeply about the future of Red Deer and Alberta.”

Green also says volunteers were encouraged that a number of self-identifying conservative voters agreed to sign the petition.

“While the campaign was overwhelmingly positive, we also encountered challenges. Some residents privately expressed support but hesitated to sign or host our volunteers, citing fears about potential impacts on employment, grants/funding, or personal attacks. These concerns highlight the importance of fostering a political culture in which people feel safe participating openly in democratic processes,” she continues.

“Although we did not meet the recall threshold, success is not only defined by meeting the number of signatures. We identified new community leaders and volunteers, engaged residents who had never before participated in politics, and made a stand for accountable representation in Alberta. Democracy is strengthened through engagement, dialogue, and education, all of which Recall Red Deer South accomplished.”

rdnewsNOW spoke with MLA Stephan, who says he is grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve, and to speak the truth as he best understands it.

But he conceded that whether it’s 400 or 4,000 people who signed the petition, he wants to know if constituents think he’s wrong about anything.

“I would want to correct it. I want to do the right thing for Red Deer, and to support the great families here. In terms of verification of the number, I hope the chief electoral officer doesn’t spend a lot of time and money verifying the number of a failed petition, as it wouldn’t be good use of taxpayers’ time,” the former head of the Red Deer Taxpayers’ Association said.

“In any event, if there are things I need to do better, I always want to try and be better. I know I’m not perfect.”

Stephan said, for example, that as part of the current government, he bears some responsibility for the provincial budget, released earlier this week.

Promising to get into more detail in an op-ed he’s releasing next week, Stephan suggested he’s not 100 per cent good with everything it entails.

“Frankly, I think there’s room for improvement, and there are a number of factors. While there are things we can’t control that have impacted our budget, there are things we can control and we need to do better.”

He also reiterated his thoughts from November that recalls are too easy to start and too difficult to achieve success.

“I respect people who participate in our democratic process, even if it’s seeking to recall myself or others; I don’t have any hard feelings,” he said. “It’s just like respecting people who vote, whether they vote for me or someone else.”

Friday’s news about the Stephan-related recall petition comes as Alberta’s Chief Electoral Officer, Gordon McClure, has signed off on the conclusion of nine others.

Seven of those nine reached their signature deadline, and were each unsuccessful, while another two were withdrawn. The office has not officially concluded the petition against Stephan, but says it will in the coming days.

A recall petition against Red Deer-North MLA Adriana Lagrange has until March 5 to collect signatures.

Follow all the recall petitions here.