The petition to oust Calgary's mayor needs 8,571 signatures per day to run.

The impeachment process for Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek officially began Monday.

Landon Johnston, a Calgary business owner, decided to petition Gondek to recall, potentially losing his job.

It was able to do so thanks to the 2022 Withdrawal Act, which was added to the Alberta Government's Municipal Government Act (MGA).

The MGA mainly oversees how municipal governments operate.

So how likely is Johnston to succeed in his quest?

Consider the requirements for a withdrawal application and From around the city over the last couple of days, Gondek seems to have a good chance of finishing his term.

Here's a breakdown of the legislation, the requirements for a recall petition, and how Johnston's action might work or fail.

Remember the law and Alberta's elected officials

In 2022, the Alberta government amended the MGA to include provisions for the recall of elected officials, including MLAs, school board officials, and municipal officials such as the mayor and councilors of the City of Calgary.

Under the legislation, eligible voters or electors can petition for the recall of elected officials.

Johnston, the representative of the recall petition against Mayor Gondek, has 60 days – from February 5 to April 4 – to collect the signatures of at least 40% (1,285,711) of the population of the City of Calgary and present his petition. City.

All these signatures must be original, notarized and handwritten.

Each person who can be considered a signatory to a revocation petition must meet the following requirements:

• Be of voting age (18) on or before October 18, 2021.
• A resident of Calgary on election day

514,284 is required for the city office to consider the request for withdrawal. That's 8,571 signatures per day until April 4th.

393,090 people voted in the 2021 Calgary city election; This is 46.38 percent of voters.

Is it impossible for Johnston to get the 500,000+ signatures needed to send a petition?

No, but some say it's unlikely.

Calgary political analyst Dwayne Bratt said in a post on X that the bar to oust Gondek is high, comparing the number of signatures needed to remove him from the election turnout when he ultimately won the mayoralty.

“The essence of the petition is symbolic,” he wrote. “In order not to remove Gondek from his position.”

However, the reactions were different.

It is highly doubtful that the organizers will cross the threshold. That's not the point. It's about building a right-wing organization to replace the current mayor and most of the council in the next election. Signatures are essential data for this endeavor. https://t.co/n6WFAJ0qaF

— Brian Mason (@bmasonNDP2) February 5, 2024

It is highly doubtful that the organizers will cross the threshold. That's not the point. It's about building a right-wing organization to replace the current mayor and most of the council in the next election. Signatures are essential data for this endeavor. https://t.co/n6WFAJ0qaF

— Brian Mason (@bmasonNDP2) February 5, 2024

CalgaryRecall supports this effort; We are working hard to recall Section 11
Calling a councilor is more realistic

We are not affiliated with Gondek Challenge

#year

— CalgaryRecall (@CalgaryRecall) February 5, 2024

If the threshold is met, what happens next?

There is a 45-day time period in which the sufficiency of the petition (including all of the above) will be assessed if it is submitted with the required number of signatures.

If the application is found to be sufficient, the individual in the recall notice – Mayor Gondek – will be removed from office and will no longer be a member of any council committee and his elected position (in this case the mayor's office) will be vacated. .

12 months before the next municipal election, a re-election will be held.

If he is removed from office less than 12 months before the election, a by-election is called or the council appoints a new mayor.