Demetrios Nicolaides issued the following statement today on the launch of a recall petition to remove him as the MLA for Calgary-Bow. 

Dear neighbours,

On October 23, 2025, a recall petition was filed and approved by Elections Alberta. Under the Recall Act, 2021, residents of a constituency can recall their MLA if they are dissatisfied with his/her performance as an elected official.

It is my view, based on the reasoning provided in their application, and my previous interactions with them, that the petitioner is using the recall process to influence government policy and not because she has any legitimate concerns regarding my conduct as your MLA.

The applicant alleges, in her official statement filed with Elections Alberta (available online) that I have “failed to support public education,” that I am attempting to privatize education and that I “continue to dismiss Alberta’s role in promoting fossil fuel disinformation in schools across the country.” In a recent interview, the petitioner talked about ongoing provincial policy discussions regarding the creation of an Alberta Pension Plan, an Alberta Police Force, healthcare reform and further commented that the government must be stopped.

Clearly, this recall is a question of government policy and priorities, and not about my performance as your elected representative.

There has not been a single mention or suggestion of any ethical violation, misconduct, or negligence. There is no claim that I am unable to represent your views in the Legislature or carry out the functions of my elected office.

This recall is clearly an attempt to trigger a new election because of policy and political differences, effectively seeking to subvert the democratic mandate you gave me just two years ago.

In 2019, when then-UCP leader Jason Kenney campaigned on the idea of recall, he noted that it should be an “instrument of accountability” if elected officials “totally violate the trust of voters.”

In 2023, I was duly re-elected as your representative with 49.7% of the popular vote, in an open, fair, and transparent election, giving me a clear mandate to represent you in the Legislature and implement the policies and priorities of the United Conservative Party.

Our Westminster democracy provides regular opportunity, every four years, for citizens to re-evaluate their options and make a different decision if they desire. That is the proper venue for debating and deciding policy direction and provincial priorities.

I am a firm believer in recall, when used appropriately and for the right reasons. If a member has engaged in illegal or unethical conduct, or demonstrably failed to perform the basic duties of their office, indeed, they should be recalled.

If I have acted in an unethical manner or engaged in any misconduct, I would have no objections to a recall against me. However, I believe I have always acted professionally, respectfully, and with your best interests at heart. I recognize that many of you did not support the UCP’s priorities and policies in the last election, but I will always do my best to listen to your views and concerns with humility. I will, of course, respect the views of my constituents as expressed through any democratic means, including through a successful recall.

I remain committed to the mandate you gave me, and I will always listen to different ideas to ensure I am in the best possible position to represent your views in the Legislature, as I have done with the recall petitioner herself, in person and via email.

In closing, I commit to serve every resident of this constituency with dignity, respects and integrity.

Best,

Demetrios Nicolaides, PhD, ECA
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Calgary-Bow