Alberta’s federal boundary commissioners have proposed major changes to the province's House of Commons seats, including six new districts and a plethora of new names.
Their report was submitted to Parliament before the Christmas break. Twenty of the 34 ridings were adjusted from the original commission proposal, following public hearings.
MAP: Alberta's proposal ridings
Calgary, which has grown by 25 per cent since the 2001 census, would gain one seat in the south and one in the northwest. The city's eastern region would also be significantly redrawn.
Following public consultation, Calgary Nose Hill was extended to the northern city limits. Other communities were also switched between ridings.
All current ridings would be renamed except for Calgary Centre and Calgary Nose Hill. But two proposed names were changed for the final report: Calgary Spy Hill becomes Calgary Rocky Ridge, and Calgary McCall becomes Calgary Skyview.
MAP: Calgary
In Edmonton, which grew 22 per cent over the past decade, there would be seven ridings entirely within the city limits and two ridings that are a "hybrid" of urban, suburban, and rural: Edmonton--Wetaskiwin and St. Albert--Edmonton. Sherwood Park--Fort Saskatchewan would be created east of the city.
Like Calgary, nearly all ridings would be renamed. However, the name Edmonton Centre was retained instead of the proposed Edmonton McDougall. The commission also readjusted some boundaries from its initial proposal.
MAP: Edmonton
Edmonton currently has five hybrid and three urban ridings.
In the north, Grande Prairie takes in the city of the same name and the surrounding area, reducing the population pressure on the area’s two existing ridings, which includes rapidly-growing Fort McMurray--Cold Lake.
The proposed size of a new Peace River--Westlock riding in the north garnered negative reaction, according to the commissioners. Additional territory was moved to the Grande Prairie riding.
Other highlights:
- The two rural ridings in eastern Alberta have been reconfigured and renamed: Lakeland and Battle River--Crowfoot
- Red Deer and environs has been divided into two districts (MAP: Red Deer)
- Wild Rose has been reduced in size and renamed Banff—Airdrie
- The area between Calgary and the U.S. border would gain a fourth seat (Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foothills, and Bow River)
Bill C-20 assigned 34 seats to the province, thanks a 22.5-per-cent population jump from 2001 to 2011. That averages to an average quota of 107,213 for each district.
Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island have also sent their reports to Parliament.
THE PROCESS
Independent commissions were established in each province to consider the electoral map based on the 2011 census. Thirty new ridings are also being created in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta.
Commissioners, appointed by each province's chief justice and the Speaker of the House of Commons, consider geography, history, and population in crafting their proposed boundary changes. Public hearings followed, along with future study by a parliamentary committee for any comments and objections.
The final map is provided to the Chief Electoral Officer. The three territories will continue to hold one seat each.
THE LEGISLATION
The formula for determining seats has been adjusted several times since Confederation. Notably, no province can have fewer MPs than Senators, and no province can have fewer seats than they had in 1976.
The opposition NDP proposed their own bill to ensure that Quebec's proportion would remain at the same level (24.35 per cent) as 2006, when the Québécois nation resolution passed. Under Bill C-20, Quebec's proportion of seats falls to 23.08 per cent of the House of Commons.
The Liberals, meanwhile, were worried about the transparency of the electoral commissions and how individuals would be appointed. They opposed both the Conservative and NDP bills, calling for a rebalance of the Commons without any additional seats.
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