Proposed changes to electoral boundaries in Alberta have local MLAs shaking their heads.
According to a report issued by the Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission, the proposed new boundaries are primarily meant to address population sizes, and could mean big changes for the region, including moving the Town of High River from the Highwood constituency to Livingstone-Macleod.
“It’s kind of ironic that the Highwood River is no longer part of the Highwood constituency,” said Highwood MLA Wayne Anderson. “I don’t think common sense is in play on this one, it’s all about numbers.”
Other changes include changing the Chestermere constituency, which would take on Heritage Pointe and the Davisburg plain area as far south as Mazeppa; moving Turner Valley, Black Diamond, Millarville and Priddis into Highwood from Livingstone-Macleod; and replacing Little Bow (which includes Blackie) with Drumheller-Strathmore north of Arrowwood and Taber-Vulcan in the south, which stretches from the Vulcan area to the southeast corner of the province.
Justice Myra Bielby, chair of the commission, said the decisions were made to accommodate huge population growth in Highwood.
“Highwood at the moment has a population that’s well above the provincial average,” said Bielby.
The average is determined by dividing the province’s total population by the 87 ridings in Alberta. At present, the provincial average population is 46,697, while the population of Highwood sits around 55,000, she said.
According to the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act, a constituency cannot be more than 25 per cent higher than the average population, and Highwood currently sits at 18 per cent higher, she said.
The proposed boundary changes would see the population move to three per cent below the average, providing room for future growth, she said.
She said the commission looked carefully at Highwood to determine whether the constituency had an “acceptable reason” for having a population higher than the average. Reasons include if a city or town would have to be divided, the economic base of the constituency, and whether people in the area do the same job, shop in the same areas, and speak the same language.
“We can change the boundaries of Highwood without affecting those considerations,” said Bielby.
Anderson disagrees.
“There’s a natural economic corridor between High River, Aldersyde and Okotoks,” said Anderson. “It’s always existed – it’s like a brother and sister relationship – and to take High River out has a huge impact on that corridor, because it’s not going to be served well by the new constituency because it’s too far north.”
In addition, he said Highway 2 should not be the border between Highwood and Chestermere because the Bow River makes it impossible to cross from one half of the constituency into the other without putting on a lot of extra miles.
“It doesn’t make sense the whole Davisburg plain area would be part of a constituency that’s located on the other side of the river,” said Anderson.
His initial report, which he debated in the legislature, had recommended using the Bow River and the Highwood River as natural borders running north and south, he said. He will be raising the point again when the matter comes back to the table.
Anderson said he’s also requested a time to meet and express his concerns with the proposed changes.
Livingstone-Macleod MLA Pat Stier said he was disappointed with the Commission’s report.
He said it makes sense to have Black Diamond, Turner Valley, Millarville and Priddis located in Highwood, but the Heritage Pointe and Dunbow area should not be included in the Chestermere constituency. He also disagrees with moving High River from Highwood to Livingstone-Macleod.
“I’m not against having the people of High River in my area, but I don’t think High River should be separated off from the Highwood riding. It makes no sense,” said Stier.
He said former Highwood MLA George Groeneveld did a great job of fighting to keep High River in the constituency in 2010-2011 when a similar recommendation came forward, and his argument resulted in changes to the initial first draft of boundary adjustments.
“I think he did a great job there,” said Stier. “I know George fought hard for that, and I’ll be doing likewise in this situation as well.”
He said basing the boundary adjustments on population alone can make things difficult for MLAs and constituents in southern Alberta, where ridings are so large it can take three hours to get from one end to the other for meetings or events.
It makes it difficult for MLAs to get in touch with their constituents, he said. In his constituency alone, he deals with 22 communities and 14 councils, compared to three communities in Highwood.
“What this is really based on is because they wanted to give a couple more seats to the cities, they’re enlarging a lot of rural ridings,” said Stier. “It’s rural versus urban issue all over again.”
He said he’s relieved there is still an opportunity to speak out against the proposed boundary changes.
“There will be an awful lot of people having an awful lot of opinion on this, I can assure you,” said Stier.
For more information, or to see proposed electoral boundary maps and provide feedback, visit www.abebc.ca. The Commission will accept submission until July 8.
A public hearing will be held in Calgary at the Delta Hotel on July 20. Everyone is welcome to attend, but the Commission asks those intending to speak pre-register.
