Proposed constituency lines divided County
Amy Gregson – Times Reporter
An interim report released by the Electoral Boundaries Commission has recommended changing the Strathmore-Brooks constituency and dividing Wheatland County into two different constituencies.
The proposed changes would see a Strathmore-Chestermere constituency and a Brooks-Drumheller constituency.
The line that divides the County would be between Gleichen and Cluny, with the Cluny area being included in the Little Bow Constituency.
The current lines have two complete countyies, Wheatland and Newell, in the one riding. “The way it is now, all the County is in one constituency riding, which is Strathmore-Brooks,” said Ben Armstrong, Reeve of Wheatland County.
“We feel we have more in common with that area and the MLA than what’s west of us.”
The County also feels the representation between urban and rural is unbalanced with a ratio of two urban to one rural in the proposed boundary.
“We just feel we’d get better treatment if we’re working in the area that we’re in right now,” said Armstrong
Another concern of the County is they would be dealing with two different MLA’s, something that hasn’t always worked the best in the past.
“We had trouble dealing with that issue when we were trying to deal with grant money and trying to get things done in different areas and you have to deal with two MLAs who aren’t getting along,” said Armstrong. “It made more sense to put us all into one area.”
MLA for Strathmore-Brooks Arno Doerksen said he wouldn’t have a problem adding Chestermere in terms of representation, but understands and has heard concerns from residents about the new boundary lines.
“It’s always difficult for the people living close to the boundary lines to determine where they need to vote,” said Doerksen.
Doerksen said people understand the current lines because they do contain two complete counties.
“This is an interim report and they are inviting comments from people,” he said. “The interim report really divides up those in the countyies.”
Doerksen does live in the proposed Strathmore-Chestermere, but where he would run in the next election is determined through nominations.
“It’s [his home] quite central in terms of the existing Strathmore-Brooks [constituency], but that’s neither here or there.”
The constituency office is currently in Brooks.
The Electoral Boundaries Commission released their interim report Feb. 24 and have made recommendations on the changes to constituency lines after reviewing the existing electoral map of Alberta.
The changes were based on the latest census and population information and have increased the electoral divisions in Alberta from 83 to 87.
There are two new constituencies in Calgary, one in Edmonton and one in Fort McMurray.
The commission is seeking public input through written submission until April 2. They will then have a series of public hearings from April 12 to 30 before finalizing the final boundaries.
A final report will then be submitted to the Legislative Assembly by July and once the document is approved it will be used in the next provincial election.