Proposed Electoral Division Areas, Boundaries And
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2016-17 Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission Proposed Electoral Division Areas, Boundaries, and Names for Alberta Interim Report to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta May 2017 Electoral Boundaries Commission 2016-17 Interim Report The Honourable Robert Wanner Speaker Office of the Speaker Legislative Branch 325 Legislature Building 10800 - 97 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6 Dear Mr. Speaker: We are honoured to submit our interim report setting out the areas, boundaries and names of the 87 electoral divisions we propose for Alberta, together with our reasons for the proposals. This report is submitted as required by section 6(1) of the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act, RSA 2000, c.E-3, as amended (the “Act”). As required by law, we are submitting our interim report within seven months of the Commission having been fully established on October 31, 2016. We intend to invite additional written submissions and to hold additional public hearings during the week of July 17, 2017 to receive feedback on our proposals. In accordance with section 8(1) of the Act, we will then consider any further representations made to us before providing our final report to you on or before October 31, 2017, as required by the Act. Dated at Edmonton, Alberta, this 23 day of May 2017. Honourable Madam Justice Myra Bielby, Chair Gwen Day, Member Laurie Livingstone, Member W. Bruce McLeod, Member D. Jean Munn, Member Acknowledgements The Commission acknowledges the advice and suggestions provided at the hearings and in written submissions from Albertans. The Commission also wishes to acknowledge the support services provided by: Drew Westwater, Jiri Vosyka and Tara Young of Elections Alberta Robert H. Reynolds, QC, Shannon Dean, Aaron Roth, Shannon Parke, Tracey Sales, Janet Schwegel and the staff of Alberta Hansard, Philip Massolin and the research staff from the Legislative Assembly Office Kathryn Wiegers of Kathryn Wiegers Communications Inc. Further Consultation The Commission is interested in receiving advice and suggestions from members of the public on the electoral divisions proposed in this interim report. Submissions are most helpful when they: identify the proposed electoral division the submission is concerning; outline specific concerns; propose solutions to address those concerns; and review the effect of the proposed solution(s) on neighbouring proposed electoral divisions. Written submissions must be received by July 8, 2017. They may be mailed, emailed, or submitted through the Electoral Boundaries Commission website, www.ABebc.ca. Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission Suite 100, 11510 Kingsway Avenue, Edmonton Alberta, T5G 2Y5 Email: [email protected] www.ABebc.ca Those wishing to make an in-person submission during the public hearings being held the week of July 17, 2017, must register in advance by signing up on the Electoral Boundaries Commission website, www.ABebc.ca. 1 Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................................ 4 Introduction to the Commission ...................................................................................................................... 6 Legal Requirements ............................................................................................................................................ 8 Sources of Population Information: Canada 2016 Census ......................................................................... 12 Jurisdiction of the Electoral Boundaries Commission ................................................................................ 14 Public Hearings and Submissions ................................................................................................................... 16 The Alberta Context ......................................................................................................................................... 16 Major Themes in the Public Submissions and Presentations ..................................................................... 17 1. Voter Parity .......................................................................................................................................... 17 2. Rural Concerns .................................................................................................................................... 18 3. Blended Constituencies ...................................................................................................................... 18 4. Section 15(2) Constituencies.............................................................................................................. 19 5. Constituency Design/Non-contiguous Constituencies ................................................................. 20 6. Common Interests .............................................................................................................................. 20 7. Existing Community and Municipal Boundaries ............................................................................ 21 8. Geographical Features, Including Existing Road Systems ............................................................ 21 Process ................................................................................................................................................................ 22 1. Edmonton ............................................................................................................................................ 22 2. Calgary ................................................................................................................................................... 23 3. Areas outside Calgary and Edmonton ............................................................................................. 24 4. Summary of Majority’s Recommendations ..................................................................................... 25 Reasons for the Commission’s Recommendations ..................................................................................... 26 1. Representation by Population ........................................................................................................... 26 2. Rural Concerns .................................................................................................................................... 26 3. Indigenous Peoples’ Concerns .......................................................................................................... 27 4. Section 15(2) Status ............................................................................................................................. 28 5. Mechanics of Adjustment .................................................................................................................. 29 6. Projected Growth ................................................................................................................................ 30 2 7. Blended Constituencies ...................................................................................................................... 30 Specific Questions for Public Input ............................................................................................................... 31 Naming Recommendations ............................................................................................................................. 33 Recommendations for Boundary Changes ................................................................................................... 34 Population Distribution ................................................................................................................................... 64 Setting Boundary Descriptions through the Mechanism of Mapping ...................................................... 66 Other Recommendations to Assist in Achieving Effective Representation ............................................ 66 Appendix A: Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission Minority Position by Gwen Day ................. 67 Appendix B: List of Presenters - First Round of Public Hearings ............................................................ 72 Appendix C: List of Submitters - First Round of Written Submissions ................................................... 77 Appendix D: Electoral Boundaries Commission Act ................................................................................. 94 Appendix E: Proposed Electoral Divisions - Maps ..................................................................................... 99 Cities and Urban Service Areas ..................................................................................................................... 189 3 Executive Summary In accordance with its role under the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act, RSA 2000, c. E-3 as amended (“the Act”), the majority (“the majority”) of the Electoral Boundaries Commission (the “Commission”) recommends that changes be made to the electoral boundaries of some of Alberta’s 87 electoral divisions, (sometimes called constituencies or ridings) that would result in: Consolidating four electoral divisions into three in the central northeast area of the province (north and east of Edmonton) to account for the population in those areas having grown at a rate below that of the province as a whole; those current four electoral divisions are Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills, Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater, Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville and Bonnyville-Cold Lake.