Alberta Premier Smith defends proposed riding redraw that Opposition calls cheating
The proposal would give Lethbridge four representatives, while the NDP says the changes are designed to help the United Conservative Party.
- On Monday, an advisory panel proposed redrawing Alberta's electoral boundaries, splitting the city of Lethbridge into four ridings from its current two, a map the Opposition NDP condemns as partisan gerrymandering.
- Premier Danielle Smith's government restarted the redrawing process after rejecting a prior commission's recommendations early this year; the new advisory panel included UCP and NDP appointees but remained split along party lines.
- Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi questioned why Lethbridge faces changes while Red Deer, roughly the same size, remains untouched, alleging the map aims to protect Finance Minister Jason Nixon's seat.
- Nenshi vowed to challenge the new electoral maps in court, prompting Premier Smith to state her government will assemble a legal team for defense, arguing Lethbridge would be "very well-served" by the hybrid model.
- The legislature is expected to begin debating the report soon, with boundary adjustments typically occurring every 10 years, though legal threats now loom over preparations for next year's election.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Alberta to lawyer up if NDP challenges electoral boundary report: Smith
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Tuesday her government will assemble a legal team to make the argument that new electoral boundaries proposed by an advisory panel achieve effective representation, should the Opposition NDP advance a legal challenge.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith defends proposed riding redraw
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is defending a proposal to redraw provincial boundaries in a way the Opposition NDP says is cheating. The proposal, made public in a report on Monday, would split the southern city of Lethbridge into four ridings from its current two. It would have one strictly urban riding while the other three […]
Winnipeg Free Press
Alberta Premier Smith defends proposed riding redraw that Opposition calls cheating
EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is defending a proposal to redraw provincial boundaries in a way the Opposition NDP says is cheating.
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