A recall petition targeting Alberta's Minister of Education, Demetrios Nicolaides, has received approval from the province's Chief Electoral Officer. This development comes after months of tension between the provincial government and the teachers' union. The petition was initiated by Jennifer Yeremiy, a geophysicist from Calgary who previously ran for office with the Alberta Party.

Yeremiy is affiliated with the Recall for Change movement, which has previously attempted to recall other United Conservative Party (UCP) MLAs, including Minister of Indigenous Relations Rajan Sawhney. The petition notice was officially delivered to Nicolaides, Premier Danielle Smith, and Ric McIver, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, on October 14.

In a letter responding to Chief Electoral Officer Gordon McClure, dated October 21, Nicolaides expressed his concerns about the recall process. He stated, "A recall of an MLA should not proceed when the stated reason is dissatisfaction with government policy rather than a failure in the member’s core duties."

To successfully remove Nicolaides from office, the petition must gather 16,006 signatures from constituents. This threshold reflects the growing discontent among some voters regarding the government's handling of educational issues. The outcome of this recall effort could have significant implications for the UCP and its leadership in the province.