Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the plan is to have the next provincial election in Oct. 2027, as is currently scheduled. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By Canadian Press

Premier Smith not eyeing early election, as new conservative party forms

Jan 2, 2026 | 1:50 PM

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is dismissing rumours that she might call an election as early as this spring.

Smith says her United Conservatives are polling well and that governments are elected to four-year terms for a reason.

The next scheduled election is not until October of 2027, but premiers have the legal flexibility to call for writ drops earlier.

Her comments come as her party faces a challenge from former cabinet minister Peter Guthrie.

Guthrie quit cabinet last year and was later kicked out of the UCP caucus altogether for criticizing how the government was handling a scandal surrounding health-care contracts.

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Guthrie is now the head of the Alberta Progressive Tory Party.

He says they are working to get committees and candidates in place in case Smith wants to undercut a rival conservative party before it can get going by calling a snap election.

Guthrie says Albertans are looking for a place to park their votes somewhere between Smith’s U-C-P and the Opposition N-D-P.

(The Canadian Press)