UCP’s Tyler Shandro concedes Calgary-Acadia with NDP win

Alberta United Conservative Party’s former Justice Minister Tyler Shandro conceded his Calgary-Acadia seat to NDP’s Diana Batten following a judicial recount Friday.

Batten received 10,959 votes to the 10,937 for Shandro, winning by 22 votes. The former minister took to Twitter afterwards to congratulate her victory.

“I want to congratulate Diana Batten on her victory in Calgary-Acadia. Her supporters and her campaign also deserve congratulations,” Shandro’s tweet reads.

“I hope that the new Legislature, including MLAs from both the UCP and NDP, will be successful in guiding our province.”

I want to congratulate Diana Batten on her victory in Calgary-Acadia. Her supporters and her campaign also deserve congratulations.

I hope that the new Legislature, including MLAs from both the UCP and NDP, will be successful in guiding our province.

— Tyler Shandro ???????? (@shandro) June 23, 2023

Shandro also thanked residents of Calgary-Acadia, adding it has been an honour to serve for the last four years.

“To the residents of Calgary-Acadia, from the bottom of our hearts, Andrea and I thank you for your support, efforts, and votes. We are forever grateful to every one of you,” his tweet reads.

To the residents of Calgary-Acadia, from the bottom of our hearts, Andrea and I thank you for your support, efforts, and votes. We are forever grateful to every one of you.

It has been an honour to serve the residents of Calgary-Acadia as their MLA for the last four years.

— Tyler Shandro ???????? (@shandro) June 23, 2023

“I’m extremely grateful for this support from the people of Calgary-Acadia. I also want to thank my team, volunteers, and friends and family who supported me throughout the campaign,” reads a statement from Batten.

“I can’t wait to get to work representing the people of Calgary-Acadia and advocating for what matters to them — fixing our healthcare system, lowering their costs, and creating good-paying jobs.”

CityNews confirmed the loss a month ago in the Alberta Election when Batten defeated Shandro. Initial reports following the election had the margin between them as close as seven votes.

The loss of Shandro led to a change to Premier Danielle Smith’s provincial cabinet. UCP MLA Mickey Amery was selected as the Alberta Justice Minister.

After Elections Alberta certified the vote, the margin triggered a recount by Elections Alberta, which Shandro lost by 25 votes.

The UCP filed for judicial recounts on the last day allowed by Elections Alberta on June 16.

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• Elections Alberta certifies vote, NDP takes two Calgary seats subjected to recount

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• UCP asks for judicial recounts in two close Calgary ridings

The NDP claimed victory in Calgary Glenmore earlier in the week after its judicial recount.

NDP’s Nagwan Al-Guneid defeated UCP’s Whitney Issik by 48 votes.

The win in Calgary Acadia has confirmed the number of MLAs from the two parties, with 49 for the UCP and 38 for the NDP.

The NDP MLAs elected on May 29 were sworn in Monday, while UCP MLAs were sworn in Tuesday, along with re-electing Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Nathan Cooper as speaker of the Alberta Legislature.

A full legislative session won’t begin until Oct. 30.

Timeline of Shandro with UCP

Shandro is a Calgary-based lawyer who was first elected in 2019 for the UCP.

He was a high-profile and controversial cabinet minister. As health minister, he tore up the government’s binding contract with physicians and imposed new rules and pay provisions.

That sparked years of public feuding with physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic before peace was restored and a new contract ratified under Shandro’s successor, Jason Copping.

Shandro also served as labour minister and was justice minister when writs were issued for last month’s election.

As justice minister, he figured prominently in a report last month by Alberta’s ethics commissioner.

Commissioner Marguerite Trussler concluded Smith broke ethics rules and sought to undermine the rule of law when she tried in January to persuade Shandro to exercise his powers to make the criminal case of a COVID-19 protester “go away.”

Trussler noted Shandro refused to do so.

“Shandro must have felt considerable pressure and concern for his tenure as minister as a result of (Smith’s) call,” wrote Trussler.

“Shandro stood his ground in defending the independence of the Crown.”

Related Stories:

• Ethics probe finds Alberta Premier Danielle Smith violated conflict of interest rule

• Alberta NDP checking to ensure premier doesn’t get OK to interfere in justice system

Smith rose in the house earlier this week to apologize publicly for the Shandro phone call.

Shandro was one of several high-ranking UCP members to lose their seats in the election. Copping lost his seat, as did culture minister Jason Luan and deputy premier Kaycee Madu.

He is currently in the middle of a hearing with Alberta’s law society over allegations he broke the lawyers’ code of conduct while health minister.

The complaints against Shandro include confronting a Calgary doctor in the front yard of his home, calling two Red Deer doctors on their personal cellphones, and contacting a woman who sent a message to his wife’s company accusing the couple of being in a conflict of interest.

The hearing began in January, continued earlier this month and has been adjourned until Sept. 5 to give lawyers time to complete written briefs.

-With files from Lauryn Heintz