EDMONTON -- Alberta's education minister says he's taking an unsuccessful recall petition launched against him as a new vote of confidence for the government.
Demetrios Nicolaides says in a letter to constituents that the result validates the province's direction and priorities and serves as a boost to keep going.
Nicolaides was the first of more than two dozen members of Alberta's legislature to be targeted by recall petitions in the final months of 2025.
Jenny Yeremiy submitted her petition on Tuesday even though it received just over 40 per cent of the 16,000 signatures needed to trigger a vote on whether Nicolaides keeps his seat.
Elections Alberta says it has officially closed the books on the petition and won't be verifying the signatures further.
Yeremiy had launched the petition over what she said was the minister's failure to support public education.
Nicolaides says the result means he has a new mandate to advance policies that make Alberta's education system one of the best in the world.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 21, 2026.