Highwood UCP riding association calls for Danielle Smith leadership review vote

The Highwood UCP riding association has formally called for a party vote to review Premier Danielle Smith's leadership, the first public challenge to her authority in what mirrors the internal dissent that ended Jason Kenney's tenure four years ago.

At least 21 additional UCP constituency associations must back the call to force a leadership review vote. Highwood is the riding south of Calgary that includes High River, where Smith has long lived. Smith represented Highwood for one term when she led the Wildrose Party. She is now MLA for Brooks-Medicine Hat in the province's southeast.

The Highwood riding association is led by Helen Holder, who also serves as vice-president on the party board. Tanya Clemens, co-leader of Let Alberta Decide — a separatist organization — is a member of the Highwood association. Clemens said in a video posted to social media that she was motivated by Smith's vocal support for the "stay" option in the October 19 referendum. "I disagree with the adversarial role she has taken toward independence during this referendum, because I believe our highest elected representative should have remained neutral and allowed Albertans to make this decision," Clemens said. However, she added that she would likely support Smith's UCP leadership if a review were held today, and that Smith's approach in the referendum's aftermath "will naturally inform how I will vote in a leadership review."

Keith Wilson, the other leader of Let Alberta Decide, has been supportive of Smith and her decision on the referendum. But Jeff Rath and Mitch Sylvestre, leaders of the Alberta Prosperity Project, have soured on Smith's leadership and pro-unity position. Sylvestre is a UCP riding president in northeast Alberta and said in May he would organize a party movement to force a leadership review or push the UCP to endorse independence. That initiative showed no public signs of progress until Highwood's formal call.

RJ Sigurdson, the current Highwood MLA and Affordability Minister, said in a statement: "Let me be clear that Premier Danielle Smith has, and will continue to have, my full support. I firmly believe that the decision of the Highwood Constituency Association does not reflect the views of my constituents broadly."

UCP members gave Smith 91.5 per cent support at the party's 2024 annual convention, before the independence movement became more vocal and organized. Mitch Sylvestre suggested that backing has now evaporated. "I would suggest 91.5 per cent is forever gone," he said. The next UCP convention is scheduled for late November, after the October 19 referendum. No leadership review has been scheduled.