BOWDEN — Mayor Robb Stuart has made his pitch to have proposed federal riding boundaries redrawn.
Now he’s waiting to see if that will happen. He’s skeptical, but trying to keep an open mind.
Last June, the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Alberta (FEBCA) unveiled proposed new federal riding boundaries.
Among other changes, those new boundaries would see Bowden, Innisfail and Olds taken out of the current Red Deer - Mountain View riding.
Bowden and Innisfail would move into the vast Bow River Riding.
In an interview, Stuart noted the proposed new Bow River constituency would go all the way east to the Saskatchewan border, taking in Drumheller and Hanna, down south of the Brooks, and just north of Innisfail.
Olds would be located at the very northeastern tip of a new riding called Canmore-Cochrane-Olds which would also include Canmore.
Stuart was among several people who spoke against those plans -- including Town of Innisfail Mayor Jean Barclay – during a hearing Sept. 20 in Calgary.
Stuart said the interests of Bowden residents aren't really the same as people in other parts of the Bow River riding. He said their primary concerns seem to centre around agriculture and irrigation.
He’s also concerned that the riding is so vast (he estimates it would cover about 18,000 square kilometres) that it would be tough for a member of Parliament to represent everyone adequately.
"We just don’t think we’ll get the representation that we need,” Stuart said.
On the other hand, Stuart said, Bowden politicians and residents do have lots in common with Red Deer and Red Deer County residents.
He’s been pleased with the way politicians and Red Deer County employees there have dealt with Bowden. And Bowden politicians and residents have supported Red Deer – for example, supporting Red Deer’s ultimately successful bid to host the 2019 Canada Winter Games.
So he’d rather see Bowden included in a riding with Red Deer and/or Red Deer County.
He’d also be OK if Bowden and Olds remained together in a riding – perhaps with other communities along the QE II Highway – because they too have lots in common.
“We really appreciate the cooperation we get from all our local communities: Olds, Innisfail,” Stuart said.
“Like we’re kind of the little brother, right, because we don’t have the funds to do things, so a lot of times they help us, not only with political clout, but with a little bit of funding.”
Stuart was asked if he believes the commission has made up its mind on the boundaries and only holds hearings for show.
Stuart indicated he wasn’t sure. He said it’s his understanding that in the past, electoral boundaries commissions have made changes to their plans as a result of public input they’ve received.
“The problem is they did the boundaries without any consultation, right?" he said.
“They just get a map out and go ‘well, we need 10,000 more people in this riding. Well, Bowden’s 1,200, Innisfail’s 7,000, ah, we’ll throw in that little area of Red Deer County,’
“And that’s what they do. They don’t give you a chance to argue beforehand, they just draw the boundaries and then give you a chance to present why you don’t think it’s a good idea.”
He said now, if the commission really does want to change the boundaries, they have to “re-crunch a bunch of numbers.”
“So I just don’t like the consultation process,” he said. “And it seems that’s what the federal government always does, is they make a decision and they go ahead, and if you (want to) get a chance for feedback on it, you have to get your schedule to try to present arguments.
“And most times, I think it’s just a farce. But we’ll see.”
