The majority report recommends an increase from 87 to 89 constituencies; the minority report, which the NDP is accusing the UCP of now pursuing for political gain, proposes 91.

Locally, the majority report recommends that Red Deer’s two constituencies (Red Deer-North and Red Deer-South) remain unchanged.

The majority report would also lump Blackfalds and Lacombe, in their entirety, into a constituency with Rocky Mountain House.

Red Deer County, meanwhile, would be minimally represented in the new riding of Mountain View-Kneehill, but mostly in the name-inverted riding of Sylvan Lake-Innisfail.

Then there’s the minority report, which most notably proposes Red Deer be split into four, creating Red Deer-Blackfalds, Red Deer-Innisfail, Red Deer-Lacombe, and Red Deer-Sylvan Lake.

Blackfalds and Lacombe would be, as noted, lumped in with the city of Red Deer, as would Red Deer County with each of those four areas stretching out to the northwest, southwest, northeast, and southeast. Interestingly, as far as Blackfalds is concerned, it would be split into two, being part of both Red Deer-Blackfalds and Red Deer-Lacombe.

RED DEER

Mayor Jefferies says the recommendations the UCP government appears to be in favour of leaves the door open to having four MLAs representing Red Deer, the province’s third-largest city, but none who actually live there.

“We know there’s a distinct difference between issues faced within an urban environment versus a more rural setting, so that piece alone concerns me. And we have a bit of experience with this at the federal level,” she says, alluding to current MP Blaine Calkins and former MP Earl Dreeshen, both of whom live(d) well out of town, yet represent(ed) Red Deer federally.

“I think the Boundaries Commission was formed for the purpose of maintaining neutrality and objectivity in forming boundaries,” says Jefferies.

“Rejection of the report calls into question our commitment to democracy and what the true endgame is in trying to adjust them. The committee that looked at this was representative of all parties, so to completely reject it and move to your own answers, I think, calls into question the integrity of the process.”

What’s more is that, as Jefferies explains, when discussions took place earlier on in the process, it was “largely believed” Red Deer would remain the same.

“Very few people chose to engage in the conversation, I would argue. So when we’re talking about potentially making a change to the recommendations, Red Deerians have not had the opportunity to express an opinion on that.”

LACOMBE

There’s an important contrast to note with the concerns north up the QEII Highway in Lacombe.

There, the issue is with the majority report, not the minority report, which the province wants to see.

Mayor Thalia Hibbs says the majority-proposed Lacombe-Clearwater riding with Rocky Mountain House would be a problem.

“The proposed riding places our community on the far eastern edge of a geographically large and predominantly rural constituency that is not well-aligned with our economic, service, and commuting connections. As a result, our priorities — particularly economic ones — risk being diluted or overshadowed by differing or competing interests across the riding, making consistent and effective representation more challenging,” she says.

“While the proposal meets population targets, it does not reflect the real economic and service networks our residents rely on. If there is an opportunity to revisit the proposed boundaries, the Lacombe‑Clearwater constituency would benefit from reconsideration to better align representation with how our community functions day-to-day.”

BLACKFALDS

Blackfalds Mayor Laura Svab shares much of Hibbs’ sentiments about being put into an east-west constituency with the west country.

Economically, it doesn’t fit, she opines, adding that it could potentially be a bad fit in terms of having a less accessible MLA who’s 45 minutes away.

However, being in a Rocky Mountain House riding would mean they wouldn’t be the lone community in their riding with schools under Red Deer Catholic. Svab surmises that would be a plus in relation to advocating for more schools.

On the minority side, Svab says, “I think having two MLAs for our community would be great, giving us more strength in the legislature.”

Though she admits a town of approximately 12,000 people doesn’t necessarily stand out as a prime candidate for two representatives.

“To split the community doesn’t really make sense. Maybe Red Deer should have their own MLAs because they’d be pulling from our rural region, and rural and city are too different.”

Svab gave a six-minute presentation to the AEBC in January, and doesn’t feel their final recommendations reflected the best interests of Blackfalds residents.

But she also says she isn’t buying into the conjecture that the UCP is trying to rearrange things in its own political favour.

RED DEER COUNTY

We come now to Red Deer County, which is currently separated into the two constituencies of Innisfail-Sylvan Lake, and Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre.

Again, it would become mostly part of Sylvan Lake-Innisfail, with a small portion in Mountain View-Kneehill. That portion would be west of Highway 791 but south of Highway 587, and including all of the town of Bowden — an area along the county’s southern boundary.

Mayor Brent Ramsay says his initial impression of the majority report was positive, but upon review by council, it became clearer the municipality may stand to lose some of its rural voice.

“We spoke to the commission when they did their engagement and did a report. We were a little disappointed when the final report came out and saw it hadn’t changed much, but certainly, reading through the 300 or so pages, it added perspective. It’s a challenging situation,” Ramsay acknowledges.

“I don’t think anyone’s happy right now.”

Addressing the minority report, Ramsay doesn’t believe it would be too beneficial for the region, especially as it relates to the city of Red Deer as the hub.

“I think there are areas where hybrid ridings make sense, but an area the size of Red Deer, I think city voices will be diluted,” he says.

“I see what the premier is trying to accomplish with the committee, but once you cut out public feedback and rush it before the next election, there’s going to be concerns.”

Plus, it’s precedent-setting, he says, referring to going against what the commission came up with.

“I’m remaining optimistic that the new committee will look at this objectively.”

SO WHAT NOW?

Earlier this month, the United Conservatives passed a motion to form a Select Special Committee that would be comprised of a majority of that party’s members.

A report is expected this fall, even though the commission has said it would need a year-and-a-half to prepare things prior to an election — with the next election slated for October 2027.

Meantime, Mickey Amery, Alberta’s Minister of Justice issued a brief update on this matter late last week.

“A fair distribution of electoral divisions is essential to the democratic process, and we must ensure Albertans receive effective representation in this legislature,” he said in a release. “These amendments reflect the direction of the government resolution.”

Amery clarifies that the committee’s formation is a reflection of Recommendation #5 in the Addendum to the Majority Report.

The recommendation says this:

“In the circumstance that the Legislative Assembly of Alberta finds that it cannot concur in the proposals of the majority of the Electoral Boundaries Commission in its final report to remove two electoral divisions from areas outside of the Cities of Edmonton and Calgary, the majority of the Commission recommends that the Assembly make amendments to the Electoral Divisions Act, increasing the number of electoral divisions from 89 to 91 for the next general election, and restore the two electoral divisions that this Commission has removed.”

The addendum was written by AEBC Chair Dallas Miller, who was one of the three UCP-appointed members of the panel.

Miller goes on to say that a special select committee should be appointed in the scenario he outlines, adding:

“However, restoration of the two electoral divisions should:

a) have no impact on any electoral division in Airdrie or containing territory south of Airdrie’s southernmost border, with the exception of Drumheller-Stettler;

b) have no impact on any electoral division north of the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton;

c) result in all electoral divisions south of the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton reverting to the map outlined in the interim report, with the possible exception of including Nisku in Edmonton-South East if the all-party committee wishes to restore Leduc and Beaumont being in the same electoral division; and

d) consider restoring an electoral division mostly consisting of Clearwater County and western Mountain View County as an electoral division with s. 15(2) status under the Act.

NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi says the legislative assembly never had the chance to vote on the majority report.

The final report of the AEBC can be viewed here.

by Josh Hall

Central Alberta mayors sound off on fiery electoral boundaries debate

RED DEER

LACOMBE

BLACKFALDS

RED DEER COUNTY

SO WHAT NOW?

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