Calgary Mayor Meets With Man Behind Petition to Oust Her

Jyoti Gondek wears her chain of office after being sworn in as the new mayor of Calgary, on Oct. 25, 2021. The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh

The man behind a petition to recall the Calgary mayor was given the opportunity to meet her face-to-face.

The petition, started by Landon Johnston, has been deemed valid under the province’s Municipal Government Act, which allows eligible voters to file petitions to recall politicians at the provincial and municipal levels. However, he needs to collect over 514,000 signatures by April 4 to have the mayor recalled.

Mayor Jyoti Gondek has been criticized for a number of public positions, including a “safe and inclusive” bylaw that restricted public protests as well as her decision not to attend a Menorah lighting at city hall after she said the event had become politicized.

Mr. Johnston previously said it was the city council’s single-use items bylaw that prompted him to take action. The bylaw requires restaurants and retail stores to charge for items like paper bags, and to ask customers if they want items like cutlery and napkins. Council voted to repeal the bylaw about two weeks after it was introduced.

Following his meeting with the mayor on March 22, Mr. Johnston told reporters that she had been “very friendly” and “listened to everything I had to say.”

He said that the “dialogue has been opened” but that it was unfortunate it took 50 days and “thousands and thousands of manhours for her to hear my voice.”

“I’m happy it happened but I’m disappointed she didn’t resign,” he added. “This is the power to the people, this is the one piece of legislation given to us to fight back against bad leadership.”

Ms. Gondek issued a statement following the meeting, saying she believed Mr. Johnston and others who signed the petition were “regular people concerned with the future of the city.”

“While he and I may not agree on policies,” she said, referring to Mr. Johnston, “I think we share a desire to do good things for Calgary.”

She said as a result of the impact of the petition, she is recommitted to listening to residents.

“It’s clear that this petition has resonated with some. It’s a difficult time for many,” she said. “The cost of groceries, gas, and going out has skyrocketed and what used to be our savings accounts are now paying for heat, housing, and electricity.”

She went on to say she understood her role as mayor was to make life better for people in Calgary.

“I go back to what you told me in 2021, because I believe it’s still relevant. You asked for a local government that could bring our city back to a place of stability, where you could see a future for yourselves and future generations,” she said.

“You wanted a city that offered opportunity and prosperity for all who chose to call Calgary home. You have my word that I will lead with those thoughts front of mind, prioritizing your quality of life, safety and sense of community.”

Mr. Johnston has about 42,000 signatures, according to CBC News, but it falls short of the 514,000 he needs, which is more than the 393,000 people who voted in the 2021 election. It’s something that he said was frustrating.

“In any other legislation in the world we would have already passed two or three different thresholds based on the percentage of voters in the last election,” he told reporters. “We’ve already passed two other jurisdictions where she would have been asked to resign.”

If the petition receives enough signatures, Ms. Gondek will be recalled and no longer considered a council member, the city said. A by-election would need to be held to fill her vacancy.

Only one recall petition has been successful in Alberta. In June 2023, voters in Ryley, east of Edmonton, removed councillor Nik Lee with 250 signatures of the 460 residents in the village.

Jennifer Cowan contributed to this report.