Proposed changes outlined in the interim report from the provincial boundaries commission are unacceptable, says Wildrose MLA Jason Nixon.
The MLA for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre, Nixon says consolidating his electoral division and four others into four new divisions as recommended by the commission would create numerous problems.
"There are some concerns, not just from this area of the province but for several of the rural ridings," Nixon told the Gazette. "If we use this riding as an example, the riding would be 17 per cent over the average population and upwards of 25 to 30 per cent above urban ridings in Calgary.
"It's one thing to have a conversation about whether you want equality between rural ridings and urban ridings as far as population, and another to make them overpopulated when they are already the size of small European countries.
"We are pretty concerned that if you stay with that population, that we are diluting the value of the rural vote which is unfortunate. The problem becomes it becomes very tough to get to constituents and very tough for constituents to get to their MLAs."
Nixon said he will be working with local mayors and reeves "to show some of the concerns we have."
He says he hopes the commission will consider further public input to address concerns.
The commission is recommending the creation of three new electoral divisions, which are sometimes called constituencies.
One of those divisions would see Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre consolidated with West Yellowhead, Drayton Valley-Devon, Whitecourt-Ste. Anne and Stoney Plain into four divisions.
In releasing the interim report on May 25, chair Myra Bielby said the consolidations are in areas that have experienced rates of growth below the provincial average.
"Our interim report strikes a balance between population numbers and public interest," said Bielby.
The commission has held 21 public hearings across the province since October 2016, including in Mountain View County. Residents can submit feedback on the recommendations until July 8, with further public hearings scheduled between July 17 and 21.
The commission's final report is scheduled to be submitted to the legislature in October.
Former Mountain View County councillor Gwen Day is a member of the commission. In her minority position interim report, she recommends that electoral boundaries be set in each of Calgary and Edmonton in such a manner that no additional electoral divisions would be required to be added in either city.
"The commission is proposing to add a new riding in both Calgary and Edmonton," Day writes. "I do not believe that this was necessary given the discretion allowed for variances and additional considerations besides population in the act.
"Nor do I believe it was beneficial to ensuring effective representation for all Albertans. I am convinced the correct response to growth in urban population should have been increased variances in the cities and not an increase in the number of ridings in the two major cities.
"This would best provide effective representation for Albertans as a whole."
Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills Wildrose MLA Nathan Cooper is his party's shadow democracy and accountability minister.
"In order for MLAs to be responsive to their constituents, there must be an acknowledgement of the geographic constraints of our province, and not simply lump together communities for the sake of making population requirements add up," said Cooper.
Day's position outlined in the minority report "strikes a better balance of recognizing the multitude of factors as outlined in Section 14 of the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act that should go into developing riding boundaries while still complying with the law.
"I sincerely hope that the commission will heed Day's warning that the report, as it stands today, does not provide effective representation for all Albertans. Wildrose supports Day's position and believes everyday Albertans will as well."
"There are some concerns, not just from this area of the province but for several of the rural ridings."MLA Jason Nixon
