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The Recall Nolan Dyck petition lead is raising concerns this week about access to public-facing space in city owned facilities.
Casey Klein, the applicant for the petition approved by Elections Alberta, says she has concerns about local governance after multiple requests to rent public-facing space were “denied, delayed, or left undocumented.”
On Nov. 15, 2025 the campaign requested first-floor, public-facing kiosk space at the city-owned Eastlink Centre. Klein said a city booking co-ordinator confirmed by email Nov. 20 that kiosk space was available.
“After several weeks without a written decision, the campaign was informed by the city on Dec. 5 that kiosk access would not be permitted,” Klein said. “No written reasons were provided.
“At the same time, closed meeting rooms were offered as an alternative.”
She said the second-floor boardroom that was offered at Eastlink is a closed meeting room, not public-facing space.
“Access behind closed doors was permitted. Access to visible, public-facing space was not.”
Still, she said that due to recall timelines – about 9,427 signatures are required by Feb. 19 – the campaign booked the boardroom due to limited alternatives.
Klein said the campaign’s main concern is that public-facing access was denied.
“We wanted the kiosk and would have booked all of our signings at Eastlink in that space,” she said.
The City of Grande Prairie declined comment about the Eastlink kiosk to the News last week.
Klein said the issue extends beyond a single recall campaign and affects how public space is governed.
“Public buildings are owned by the public,” she said. “When access to city-owned facilities depends on verbal decisions, unpublished rules, and weeks of delay, public accountability erodes.”
Klein said the recall campaign is operating legally under Alberta’s Recall Act, which sets strict timelines for citizen-led democratic participation.
“As part of the signature-gathering process, the campaign sought to rent space in city-owned facilities so residents could lawfully sign the recall petition,” she said.
Subhed: Centre 2000 issues
The city also deferred the recall campaign’s request to book space at its Centre 2000 to the Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 22.
Klein said the campaign was advised by phone Dec. 23 that the request was refused, with “Chamber bylaws cited as prohibiting political events other than those involving the sitting government.”
She said the campaign immediately requested the specific bylaw provisions in writing and copied city officials, including Mayor Jackie Clayton.
As of press time, written refusal or bylaw provisions have been provided, said Klein.
The city declined a request for an interview on the campaign’s Centre 2000 concerns, directing the News to the Chamber. As of press time, there has not been a response from the Chamber to its request for an interview.
The city confirmed in writing to the campaign on Dec. 24 it has delegated booking authority to the chamber and does not review or adjudicate the chamber’s decisions.
Klein said the campaign emailed the city Dec. 24 requesting a copy of the operating agreement governing the delegation and on Dec. 29 the city advised that the agreement could only be accessed through a formal access to information request.
Klein said the city’s access to information co-ordinator confirmed in writing on Jan. 2, that access to information request had been initiated.
She said a follow-up email that day to the Chamber went unanswered, the campaign submitted a personal information access request under Alberta’s Personal Information Protection Act.
“Public facilities are being controlled by a private organization using unpublished rules that affect democratic participation,” said Klein.
“If the rules are real, put them in writing. When democracy has a deadline, delay becomes a tool.”
Klein said the campaign is calling for clear, written rules governing access to city-owned facilities, written decisions when access is denied, and public accountability when authority over public assets is delegated to third parties.
If the petition meets the requirements by Feb. 19, it will trigger a recall vote where all eligible voters can vote to either keep or recall Nolan Dyck. If more than 50 per cent vote to recall, Dyck is removed as MLA, and Elections Alberta will call a by-election to choose a new representative.
Every signature must be on the official Elections Alberta form and witnessed by a certified canvasser.
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