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Electoral Boundaries Commission final report – more urban and fewer rural ridings

Oct 20, 2017 | 9:44 AM

EDMONTON –  Proposed electoral boundary changes being prepared ahead of Alberta’s next election, may have an impact on voting.  The new political map includes more urban ridings and fewer rural ones.
The commission recommendations will create three new constituencies in Calgary, Edmonton and the Airdrie-Cochrane area.

There will also be three rural ridings cut by consolidating some constituencies in less-populated parts of the province – including in Southern Alberta:
 
— Four electoral divisions into three, including Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills, Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater, Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville and Bonnyville-Cold Lake.
 
— Five electoral divisions into four, including Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre, West Yellowhead, Drayton Valley-Devon, Whitecourt-Ste. Anne and Stony Plain.
 
— Seven electoral divisions into six, including Battle River-Wainwright, Drumheller-Stettler, Strathmore-Brooks, Little Bow, Cardston-Taber-Warner, Cypress-Medicine Hat and Vermilion-Lloydminster.
 
The Commission modified some of its recommendations from the interim report, including a reduction in the geographic size of some electoral divisions and a reduction in the degree of variance from the provincial average population for others. The vast majority of the recommendations would continue to produce population numbers falling within 10% of provincial average population size.
 
Alterations were done to avoid dividing counties and to keep communities of interest together, including indigenous populations. 
 
 The year-long review of Alberta’s electoral boundaries was undertaken as required by law, to provide recommendations to the Legislature that would offer effective representation, while taking into consideration recent population growth.  
 
Since the Commission was struck in October of 2016 it has  received 1,358 written submissions and hundreds of oral presentations. Over 30 public hearings were also held in various locations across the province.
 
The Commission submitted its final report to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly on Thursday (Oct 19).