Alberta panel proposes new electoral maps

With less than a year until the next provincial election, an independent advisory panel has recommended redrawing Alberta's electoral map, adding four new ridings to the province. The panel set boundaries for a 91-seat legislature, up from the current 87. All panel members agreed with restoring rural ridings in Lac Ste. Anne and Rocky Mountain House Sundry that the original Boundaries Commission proposed to drop. The proposal also recommends extending three West Calgary Electoral Divisions into rural areas and break up Lethbridge into four ridings. One Central Electoral Division, holding 60% of the city's population, the rest would be in three other ridings, extending far into rural areas. In the report, panel members Brent Robinson, a former Okotoks councillor, and constitutional lawyer Gerard Kennedy warn the recommendations are, quote, constitutionally fraught. They say, quote, a real possibility is that the courts end up imposing a map for the next provincial election. If so, the elimination of the two rural electoral divisions may well be ordered. This will be a most unfortunate outcome. For Alberta Democracy. Meanwhile, Brian O'Farrell, the retired Court of Appeal Justice who chaired the panel, criticizes Robinson and Kennedy for their behavior. He says, quote, Passing judgment on the constitutionality of this panel's process and proposals is for others to do. It certainly was not a part of the panel's mandate. The minority's opinion can be summarized quite simply. Our proposals are constitutional. Yours are not. It's bad. It's really bad. The opposition plans to challenge the report's recommendations in court if they're passed by the UCP majority in the legislature. I believe that this report is illegal. I believe it is unconstitutional. A member of the original Electoral Boundaries Commission agrees the new report will likely face a court challenge. It invites litigation and I'm afraid it ties this up in the courts and there's a risk that we have judges drawing Alberta's electoral boundaries and I don't think anybody wants that. Justice Minister Mickey Amery says MLAs will debate the report's recommendations in the Legislative Assembly, but he wouldn't say when that would happen. The next provincial election is scheduled for October 18, 2027. Michelle Belfontaine, CBC News, Edmonton.