Alberta has introduced legislation to increase the number of electoral divisions in the province from 89 to 91 seats. Justice Minister Mickey Amery tabled the bill on Thursday after MLAs voted in favor of the governing United Conservative Party's (UCP) motion to reject the proposed boundaries recommended by an independent commission.
Details of the Legislation
The motion seeks to amend existing legislation to change the number of electoral divisions to 91 for the next provincial election, representing a four-seat increase from the current number. The bill also establishes an expedited special committee to oversee the electoral boundaries without the need for public hearings.
Committee Membership
The committee is led by UCP Leduc-Beaumont MLA Brandon Lunty, with deputy chair and UCP Indigenous Relations Minister Rajan Sawhney, UCP Seniors, Community and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon, Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills UCP MLA Tara Sawyer, Calgary-Mountain View NDP MLA and former justice minister Kathleen Ganley, and Edmonton-Mill Woods NDP MLA and Opposition house leader Christina Gray.
Reactions and Context
The Supreme Court of Canada recently rejected an attempt by Quebec to delay redrawing its electoral boundaries. Amery stated that this decision does not affect Alberta's timeline. “The factual context of what we’re looking at when it comes to Quebec’s legislation and Alberta’s legislation is very different,” he said.
Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi criticized the UCP's move, warning that adding two seats could either reduce representation for Calgary and Edmonton or create “huge gerrymandered ridings.” He added, “The Supreme Court has long ruled that that is illegal. So they’re in a pickle and I don’t think they know their way out.”
The government maintains that the new committee will work efficiently to adjust boundaries ahead of the next election.
