Central Alberta will lose a provincial riding under new electoral boundaries announced Thursday, with the Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre constituency set to disappear despite strong opposition from its sitting MLA.
The Electoral Boundaries Commission released its majority report expanding Alberta's legislature from 87 to 89 ridings, following extensive public consultation including over 30 hearings and nearly 2,000 written submissions.
Calgary receives the biggest boost with two new ridings, while Cochrane gains a third seat to accommodate rapid population growth. Edmonton also picks up one additional urban riding.
To create space for the new constituencies, commissioners eliminated the Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre riding, dividing its territory among four neighbouring ridings: Lacombe-Clearwater, Wetaskiwin-Ponoka-Maskwacis, Sylvan Lake-Innisfail, and Mountain View-Kneehill.
Assisted Living and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon, who represents the dissolved riding, sharply criticized the decision. He argued the new boundaries fail to respect community connections along the Eastern Slopes.
"The decision to divide west central communities like Rocky Mountain House, Sundre, and their surrounding counties into ridings that stretch to the east will not reflect the unique characteristics of these communities," Nixon stated in his submission.
The commission defended its choice as necessary given legislative constraints limiting the expansion to just two additional seats despite Alberta's 20 per cent population growth since the last boundary review.
Commission member and former Sylvan Lake mayor Susan Samson was among the five-person panel that called the elimination "the least unfair" option available under current legislation.
Local municipalities also voiced concerns about the new configuration. Blackfalds council opposed the east-west alignment of the proposed Lacombe-Clearwater riding, arguing it doesn't reflect economic ties between communities. Clearwater County similarly requested pairing with Sundre within a single constituency.
For residents tracking these political developments and their potential impact on local services, community discussion continues on Calgary Forums, where Albertans debate electoral representation issues.
The boundary changes affect housing markets across affected regions, with real estate data and neighbourhood information available through CalgaryFinder.com for those considering relocations.
Some suggestions proved impractical, including proposals to pair Rocky Mountain House with Banff, which commissioners dismissed as "clearly illogical" given geographical and community considerations.
The new electoral map must still receive legislative approval before taking effect for the next provincial election.
Information compiled from Red Deer Advocate reporting.
