An empty seat at the Alberta Legislature has left more than 45,000 Calgarians without representation.

Many Calgary-Shaw residents said they weren’t aware of the byelection, others said they had other concerns occupying their attention. The result of this by-election could influence the very same pressures they stress about. 

Former Calgary-Shaw MLA Rebecca Schulz officially left her role in May 2026. Candidates from the UCP and the NDP are now campaigning to represent Calgary-Shaw as the province prepares for a byelection call.

Alberta’s election rules require the province to hold a by-election within six months if a seat remains vacant for more than 12 months before the next scheduled provincial election.

Because Alberta’s next general election is scheduled for Oct. 18, 2027, Calgary-Shaw residents must elect a new representative by November 2026.

Until voters choose a new MLA, residents of Calgary-Shaw remain without representation in the Alberta legislature.

In a Canadian Press article, Premier Danielle Smith said a byelection won’t be called until Albertans have more time for politics. 

“In the middle of summer, people probably aren’t paying that much attention to politics,” she said.

“We probably want to call it closer to when people are returning to normal, but you’ll see an announcement in the coming weeks.” 

NDP leader Naheed Nenshi views Smith’s reasoning as “extraordinarily bizarre,” highlighting that holding the election sooner would be more productive.  

Now, both parties have selected candidates to represent Calgary-Shaw and speculate the premier will call the election in early November.

Stepped down mid-term

Schulz was first elected in the general election for Calgary-Shaw on April 16 2019. 

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’s Services. Following Kenney’s resignation in 2022, Schulz ran for leader of the UCP, where she placed fourth. 

On Oct. 24, 2022, after the leadership election, Premier Danielle Smith appointed Schulz as the Minister of Municipal Affairs. Alongside Schulz’s Calgary-Shaw re-election in May. 2023, she served as Alberta’s 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.

In a social media post, Schulz shared her reasoning for stepping down. 

“Timing is everything in life and in politics, and it is time for me to seek new opportunities in my career,” she said. 

Now, Schulz is the Vice President of Regulatory and External Affairs for White Horn Resources, a major oil and gas producer in Alberta.

The potential candidates 

The by-election has become a contest between the UCP and the NDP over the future of healthcare, education and affordability.

Both candidates said they’re running because they’re local residents who want to address concerns and improve the community. 

Each candidate said education, healthcare and other public services are not currently meeting residents’ 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.

NDP candidate Kyle Campbell said public services have declined and that Calgary-Shaw needs stronger representation at the provincial level. 

“Over the last seven years, I’ve seen the degradation of our provincial government and the services that they offer to all Albertans,” he said.

“(It) made me realize that I need to take action personally.”

Campbell’s 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’s relationship with Canada. 

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. 

Campbell said the challenges are a result of government decisions alongside a failure to keep pace with Alberta’s growth. 

“(They) ran the Alberta is calling campaign. They asked for people to come here and then didn’t actually build the services that people need to start their families and live their lives,” he said.

“Building schools and funding teachers is certainly the top of my priorities.”

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.

Drawing on personal experience in getting a cancer screening, Campbell said long wait times, limited resources and staffing shortages continue to impact patients. 

“We need to fund this appropriately because if you can do adequate care and timely care, it saves folks’ conditions from getting worse,” he said. 

Campbell criticized the UCP’s 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. 

“They’re chasing professionals out of the province,” he said.

“Alberta needs to be an employer of choice.”

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. 

“Things like increasing grocery store competition, working on the cost of insurance, both for home and auto,” he said.

“There’s things that can be done and if they’re not being done, that’s a deliberate choice. It’s not an accident.” 

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. 

“This by-election is on the timeline and discretion of Danielle Smith, and I’d love for it to be called sooner rather than later,” he said.

“There is just so much happening right now, and we’ve got 45 thousand Calgarians without representation in the provincial government.” 

UCP candidate Mike Derry recognizes the pressures facing Alberta’s systems. He says the province needs a better plan for future needs and improved processes to ensure it allocates resources properly.

“The challenge isn’t as much as more money. It’s making sure that the money is being spent where it needs to and that it’s focused on frontline services,” he said. 

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. 

“I genuinely get excited and energized by helping people,” he said. 

“I hope that working at the provincial level, I’m able to help that much more.”

Both candidates identified school capacity and classroom support as major challenges, though Derry emphasized long-term planning and targeted classroom support. 

“We need to plan better… not just, ‘Oh, our schools are at capacity. What are we going to do?’ Let’s actually make a little bit of a longer-term plan.” 

According to Derry, planning would include funding for new schools and account for future population growth to prevent overcrowding.

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.

“I understand that there needs to be some extra support in the classroom,” he said.

According to Derry, front-line education workers should have a greater role in identifying what is and what isn’t working in schools. 

“We need to make sure that the teachers are listened to. (That) We’re listening to the front line. They’re the ones that experience the day-to-day things,” he said. 

 Along with public education, Derry said improving healthcare access requires making better use of existing resources and increasing our healthcare system’s capacity.

“We continue to put a record number of dollars into the healthcare system,” he said. 

“We need to continue that.”

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.

“We’ve seen a lot of challenges within healthcare, and we’ve 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,” he said. 

“(We’re) 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.”

Along with frontline education workers, Derry also argues frontline healthcare workers should be involved in shaping the solutions. 

“We 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’re listening to them,” he said. 

“There are ways that we can get information from the front line and allow them to at least be part of the solution.”

Derry said Affordability is closely tied to the strength of Alberta’s economy. He argued that creating jobs and growing industries is the best long-term way to help residents manage rising costs.

“We need to make sure that Alberta has a very strong economy, whether that’s oil and gas, or aviation,” he said.

“Calgary’s 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.”

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. 

“We need to make sure that those barriers are removed, and that the economy is strong. (Then) we can hopefully provide some tax relief,” he said. 

According to Derry, affordability doesn’t have a quick fix. He said the focus should be on a practical, long-term plan to accommodate these solutions. 

Derry said he aims to be a calm and respectful representative focused on listening to residents of Calgary-Shaw and frontline workers.

“I’m willing to have honest conversations,” he said. 

“People 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.”

As of now, Calgary-Shaw’s election date remains undetermined.