\u201cIn the middle of summer, people probably aren\u2019t paying that much attention to politics,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe probably want to call it closer to when people are returning to normal, but you\u2019ll see an announcement in the coming weeks.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
NDP leader Naheed Nenshi views Smith\u2019s reasoning as \u201cextraordinarily bizarre,\u201d highlighting that holding the election sooner would be more productive.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now, both parties have selected candidates to represent Calgary-Shaw and speculate the premier will call the election in early November.<\/p>\n
Stepped down mid-term<\/p>\n
![\"UCP](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/20230503-Alberta-green-power-election-issue-0024-edited-1.jpg\")
UCP candidate Rebecca Schulz condemns the Alberta NDP on what they say is the party\u2019s plan to green Alberta\u2019s power grid, near an Enmax substation in south Calgary on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS \/ FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY<\/p>\n
Schulz was first elected in the general election for Calgary-Shaw on April 16 2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Several days later, on April 30, 2019. Former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney appointed her to the Executive Council of Alberta as the Minister of Children\u2019s Services. Following Kenney\u2019s resignation in 2022, Schulz ran for leader of the UCP, where she placed fourth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On Oct. 24, 2022, after the leadership election, Premier Danielle Smith appointed Schulz as the Minister of Municipal Affairs. Alongside Schulz\u2019s Calgary-Shaw re-election in May. 2023, she served as Alberta\u2019s Minister of Environment and Protected Areas from June 9. 2023, until she announced her resignation from all of her government roles on December 31, 2025. With her Calgary-Shaw role as representative ending in May, 2026.<\/p>\n
In a social media post, Schulz shared her reasoning for stepping down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTiming is everything in life and in politics, and it is time for me to seek new opportunities in my career,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now, Schulz is the Vice President of Regulatory and External Affairs for White Horn Resources, a major oil and gas producer in Alberta.<\/p>\n
The potential candidates\u00a0<\/p>\n
The by-election has become a contest between the UCP and the NDP over the future of healthcare, education and affordability. <\/p>\n
Both candidates said they\u2019re running because they\u2019re local residents who want to address concerns and improve the community.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Each candidate said education, healthcare and other public services are not currently meeting residents\u2019 needs and that changes are required. Both want resources directed toward frontline services, including public education and healthcare access, alongside changes to help with affordability.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/20260613_-_Kyle_Campbell_Head_Shot_-_0009-Edit-1024x845.jpg\")
Kyle Campbell, NDP Calgary-Shaw by-election candidate ALBERTA NDP\/LIVEWIRE CALGARY<\/p>\n
NDP candidate Kyle Campbell said public services have declined and that Calgary-Shaw needs stronger representation at the provincial level.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the last seven years, I\u2019ve seen the degradation of our provincial government and the services that they offer to all Albertans,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201c(It) made me realize that I need to take action personally.\u201d<\/p>\n
Campbell\u2019s priorities include building schools in growing communities, supporting teachers, protecting public healthcare and reducing wait times. As well as enacting affordability measures and prioritizing Alberta\u2019s relationship with Canada.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pointing to new communities in Calgary-Shaw, Campbell said residents have had to send their kids to schools outside of their communities. While waiting for new elementary and junior high schools, nearby schools have become overcrowded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Campbell said the challenges are a result of government decisions alongside a failure to keep pace with Alberta\u2019s growth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201c(They) ran the Alberta is calling campaign. They asked for people to come here and then didn\u2019t actually build the services that people need to start their families and live their lives,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBuilding schools and funding teachers is certainly the top of my priorities.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Campbell, healthcare is one of the biggest issues facing residents of Calgary-Shaw, arguing the province needs to strengthen the public system rather than move toward privatization. Campbell said allowing people to pay for diagnostic services could create barriers for care, especially for patients who need timely treatment.<\/p>\n
Drawing on personal experience in getting a cancer screening, Campbell said long wait times, limited resources and staffing shortages continue to impact patients.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to fund this appropriately because if you can do adequate care and timely care, it saves folks\u2019 conditions from getting worse,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Campbell criticized the UCP\u2019s relationship with healthcare workers, noting that in some Alberta communities, healthcare shortages are affecting emergency services, with some facing temporary ER closures. This leaves people without reliable access to care when unexpected injuries or emergencies happen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re chasing professionals out of the province,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlberta needs to be an employer of choice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Campbell said many Albertans are struggling with rising costs and argued the provincial government can take immediate action to reduce financial pressure. He argued affordability solutions should focus on actions that provide relief now, rather than creating committees to study the issue.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThings like increasing grocery store competition, working on the cost of insurance, both for home and auto,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s things that can be done and if they\u2019re not being done, that\u2019s a deliberate choice. It\u2019s not an accident.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Campbell argues the province needs to change its priorities by increasing investment in public services. His overall goal is to help residents navigate government systems and hopes to improve the services that affect the daily lives of Calgary-Shaw residents.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis by-election is on the timeline and discretion of Danielle Smith, and I\u2019d love for it to be called sooner rather than later,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is just so much happening right now, and we\u2019ve got 45 thousand Calgarians without representation in the provincial government.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/20260731-Calgary-Shaw-by-election-7063-edited-1.jpg\")
Mike Derry UCP Calgary-Shaw by-election candidate headshot KALISTA GROSECLOSE\/LIVEWIRE CALGARY<\/p>\n
UCP candidate Mike Derry recognizes the pressures facing Alberta\u2019s systems. He says the province needs a better plan for future needs and improved processes to ensure it allocates resources properly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe challenge isn\u2019t as much as more money. It\u2019s making sure that the money is being spent where it needs to and that it\u2019s focused on frontline services,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Derry said his campaign focused on listening to residents, identifying barriers and improving how provincial systems operate. His background in human resources, business management and problem-solving has shaped his approach to politics.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI genuinely get excited and energized by helping people,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope that working at the provincial level, I\u2019m able to help that much more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both candidates identified school capacity and classroom support as major challenges, though Derry emphasized long-term planning and targeted classroom support.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to plan better\u2026 not just, \u2018Oh, our schools are at capacity. What are we going to do?\u2019 Let\u2019s actually make a little bit of a longer-term plan.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to Derry, planning would include funding for new schools and account for future population growth to prevent overcrowding. <\/p>\n
Derry said classrooms need more support for unconventional students with complex needs. As a parent of children in the public school system, he has seen these challenges firsthand.<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand that there needs to be some extra support in the classroom,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
According to Derry, front-line education workers should have a greater role in identifying what is and what isn\u2019t working in schools.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to make sure that the teachers are listened to. (That) We\u2019re listening to the front line. They\u2019re the ones that experience the day-to-day things,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0Along with public education, Derry said improving healthcare access requires making better use of existing resources and increasing our healthcare system\u2019s capacity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue to put a record number of dollars into the healthcare system,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to continue that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Derry said the proposed development of a second acute care bed tower at South Health Campus would improve patient flow and ease pressure on emergency departments if the province approves the project.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen a lot of challenges within healthcare, and we\u2019ve tried a whole bunch of different things. Some have worked better than others, but I do think we need to continue to keep trying new things,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201c(We\u2019re) continuing to push. Making sure that people have access to a local doctor so that some of that preventative health, rather than emergency health, is there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Along with frontline education workers, Derry also argues frontline healthcare workers should be involved in shaping the solutions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to make sure that the doctors, the nurses, the ambulance drivers, the medical testers, whatever it may be. We need to make sure we\u2019re listening to them,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are ways that we can get information from the front line and allow them to at least be part of the solution.\u201d<\/p>\n
Derry said Affordability is closely tied to the strength of Alberta\u2019s economy. He argued that creating jobs and growing industries is the best long-term way to help residents manage rising costs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to make sure that Alberta has a very strong economy, whether that\u2019s oil and gas, or aviation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cCalgary\u2019s becoming one of the fastest-growing tech hubs in North America. All great ways that we can increase more revenue for the province without raising taxes.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Derry, Alberta needs to keep inflationary taxes low, if not eliminate them. He says Alberta needs to work with the federal government along with our partners south of the border to reduce economic barriers, supporting growth and improving affordability.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to make sure that those barriers are removed, and that the economy is strong. (Then) we can hopefully provide some tax relief,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to Derry, affordability doesn\u2019t have a quick fix. He said the focus should be on a practical, long-term plan to accommodate these solutions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Derry said he aims to be a calm and respectful representative focused on listening to residents of Calgary-Shaw and frontline workers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m willing to have honest conversations,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople may not necessarily agree with me 100 per cent, but hopefully they feel that they can have an honest, respectful, civil conversation, and we can talk through it.\u201d<\/p>\n
As of now, Calgary-Shaw\u2019s election date remains undetermined.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Liked it? Take a second to support Kalista Groseclose on Patreon!<\/p>\n
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