Former Alberta Judge Tapped to Chair Panel Redrawing Electoral Boundaries
The appointment drew NDP concerns after the party said O'Ferrall donated nearly $2,800 to the UCP between 2022 and 2025.
- On Tuesday, a special committee of MLAs appointed former Alberta Court of Appeal justice Brian O'Ferrall to chair the independent advisory panel tasked with redrawing the province's electoral map ahead of the 2027 election.
- The government initiated this review after UCP-appointed commissioners issued a minority report proposing 91 seats, which critics termed 'gerrymandering' for potentially diluting urban influence in Calgary and Edmonton.
- NDP MLA Kathleen Ganley acknowledged O'Ferrall could understand the 'deeply complex' issues but criticized his donation history—'just under $2,800' to the UCP and $6,850 to the Conservative Party of Canada—as problematic for an independent committee.
- Only two candidates applied for the position after the Acting Chief Justice, the Law Society, and the Canadian Bar Association declined to participate, citing the process's irregularity.
- UCP MLA Garth Rowswell defended the selection, citing O'Ferrall's 'knowledge of Alberta' and 50-year legal career, stating the former judge's background demonstrates his ability to maintain 'total impartiality.
8 Articles
8 Articles
Retired judge appointed to electoral boundary panel donated to UCP
On Tuesday, an Alberta legislative committee appointed a former judge to chair a panel advising MLAs on new electoral boundaries, but Opposition MLAs on the committee say his recent donation history raises questions about the appointment.
Retired Calgary judge to chair new electoral boundary panel
dA retired Calgary judge has been picked to chair a new provincial electoral boundaries panel. Former provincial court and Alberta Court of Appeal justice Brian O’Ferrall will head the UCP majority panel which was created to take another look at the province’s electoral map. A previous five-member panel, which included former Sylvan Lake mayor Susan Samson completed a new map adding two more riding to the 87 legislature seats. However, two of th…
Retired Calgary judge to chair new Alberta electoral boundary panel
A retired Calgary judge has been picked to chair a new provincial electoral boundaries panel. Former provincial court and Alberta Court of Appeal justice Brian O’Ferrall will head the UCP majority panel which was created to take another look at the province’s electoral map. A previous five-member panel, which included former Sylvan Lake mayor Susan Samson completed a new map adding two more riding to the 87 legislature seats. However, two of the…
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