A year-long review of the province's electoral boundaries has recommended changes to the existing Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre (RRS) riding.
The riding's current MLA, Jason Nixon, says he is generally pleased with the proposed new boundaries.
"Specifically for the riding I represent, I'm happy with the final report and the plan for the constituency," said Nixon, a United Conservative Party MLA.
"In the draft (new boundary) Drayton Valley will be moved out and Water Valley will be moved in. I already represent about half of Mountain View County. I think the riding makes more sense."
The 2016-2017 Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission conducted interviews, open houses and other information gathering processes in preparation for its final report, which was made public this month.
The commission made a number of recommendations for changes to areas, boundaries and names of several of Alberta's 87 electoral divisions.
Members of the commission include former Mountain View County councillor Gwen Day.
The commission recommended that five electoral divisions in west central Alberta, including Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre (RRS), be consolidated into four divisions to account for the population in those areas having grown at a rate below that of the province as a whole.
Regarding the RRS division, the commission is recommending the riding be renamed Rocky Mountain House-Sundre. The Town of Rimbey would remain in the riding.
The proposed boundary changes could come before the legislature in the near future.
"We will have an opportunity to vote it shortly," said Nixon. "I would anticipate in the next three or four weeks the NDP would bring that legislation forward."
If the changes were passed they would take effect for the 2019 election.
Asked if he plans to vote in favour of the changes, he said, "I can't say that at this time. I think they (the commission) did a very good job of listening to the concerns that we had with Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre, but I think we are going to need some time to look at what is proposed for northern Alberta and for the southeast portion of the province.
"At this stage I am not planning to vote against it but I don't have enough information to say I'm voting for it yet."
Maps of all the proposed constituency boundary changes can be found at www.alberta.ca.
"Specifically for the riding I represent, I'm happy with the final report and the plan for the constituency."Jason NixonRimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre MLA
