Proposed electoral division areas, boundaries and names for Alberta : interim report to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta

2010·17.9 MB·English

by  Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission, 2009/2010

The 2009/2010
Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission
Proposed
Electoral Division Areas,
Boundaries, and Names
for Alberta
Interim Report to the Speaker
ofthe
Legislative Assembly ofAlberta
February 2010

Ernest M. Walter Members
J.
Chair KeithArcher
PeterDobbie
Brian Evans
AllysonJeffs
Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission 2009/2010
The Honourable Ken Kowalski
Speakerofthe LegislativeAssembly
Room 325, Legislature Building
10800 97 Avenue N.W.
Edmonton,Alberta
T5K2B6
DearMr. Speaker:
We have the honour to submit toyou ourinterimreport settingout the areas, boundaries andnames
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 Electoralboundaries CommissionA.ct, RSA
2000, c.E 3 as amended {th&Acf).
The Commissionwas establishedJuly 31, 2009. We are required to submit ourinterim reportwithin
seven months ofthe date ofour appointment. We have therefore completed our mandate in regard
to section 6(1) oftheAct.
Pursuant to section 8(1) ofthe Act, we will be considering any further representations made to us.
We intend to hold an additional set ofhearings as appropriate. We will provide our final report to
you on orbeforeJuly22, 2010, as requiredbytheAct.
Dated atEdmonton,Alberta, this 24th day ofFebruary, 2010.
Digitized by the Internet Archive
2015
in
https://archive.org/details/proposedelectoraOOalbe
81
INDEX
PAGE
Letter ofTransmittal i
Index ii
Acknowledgements iii
INTRODUCTION
Establishingthe Commission 1
The Law 1
2006 Canada Census Results and More RecentPopulation Information 3
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
Comments Received 5
NumberofElectoral Divisions 5
RepresentationbyPopulation 5
SpecialConsiderationDivisions 6
Rural/Urban Perspectives 6
No Change 7
Alternative Forms ofRepresentation 7
IndividualDivisionBoundaries 8
THEALBERTACONTEXT
PopulationDistribution 8
Distribution ofDivisions 9
INTERIM RECOMMENDED DIVISIONS
PrimaryFactors forElectoralDivisionBoundaries 1
Are Metes and Bounds Descriptions Necessary? 13
BoundaryChanges 14
Populations ofInterim Recommended Divisions 16
SpecialConsiderationDivisions 1
ISSUES FORFUTURE CONSIDERATION
FutureTrends 20
Constimency Offices 20
Updated Population Information 21
APPENDICES
A—Alberta ElectoralBoundaries Commission MinorityPosition 23
B-ListofPresenters -FirstRound Public Hearings 27
C -List ofSubmitters -FirstRoundWritten Submissions 31
D -ElectoralBoundaries CommissionAct ChapterE-3 40
E-Proposed ElectoralDivisions - Maps 44
ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Commission acknowledges the advice and suggestions provided at the hearings and in written
submissions fromAlbertans.
The Commission alsowishes to acknowledge the support services provided by:
• LoriMcKee-Jeske and the staffofElections Alberta
• Bill Hyshka and Todd Chorney ofthe Office ofBudget and Fiscal Planning,Alberta Finance
andEnterprise
• Communications Services, House Services, Hansardstaff, and Senior Parliamentary Counsel
ofthe LegislativeAssembly Office
• Alberta Municipal Affairs and several municipalities for assistance with 2009 population
information
• the staffoftheAirTransportation Service,AlbertaTreasuryBoard, and
Tom
• Forgrave.
FURTHER CONSULTATION
The Commission has found it very interesting and challenging to weigh the concerns and
relevant factors put before it during the preparation ofthis interim report. The Commission
is interested in receiving advice and suggestions on the electoral divisions proposed in this
interimreport.
Your submissionwillbe mostusefulifit
• identifies the proposed electoral division thatyou are concerned about
• specifies your concerns
• proposes solutions to address your concerns
• reviews the effect ofyour solutions onneighbouringproposed electoral divisions
Please send written submissions by April 2, 2010, and indicate ifyou wish to
appear and be heard at the public hearings which will be scheduled during
the periodApril12 toApril30 as required.
Sendyour submission to:
AlbertaElectoralBoundaries Commission
Suite 100, 11510 KingswayAvenue EdmontonAlberta T5G 2Y5
Ph: 780 638 3132 Fax: [phone]
(Fortoll free service, dial 310-0000 and the numberabove)
Email: [email protected]
iii

INTRODUCTION
ESTABLISHINGTHE COMMISSION
This Electoral Boundaries Commission was established onJuly 31, 2009. HonourableJudge Ernest
M. Walter, former Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Alberta was appointed by the
J.
Lieutenant Governor in Council as Chair. Appointed as members, by the Honourable Ken
Kowalski, Speakerofthe Legislative Assembly, were:
KeithArcher, Banff
PeterDobbie, Vegreville
BrianEvans, Calgary
AllysonJeffs, Edmonton
The Commission was appointed, and has carried out its work, under the provisions ofthe Electoral
boundaries CommissionA.ct (Revised Statutes ofAlberta, 2000, Chapter E-3 as amended and referred
to in this report as theAct). Also under theA.ct, Lori McKee-Jeske, Acting ChiefElectoral Officer
ofAlberta,was responsible forprovidingadvice, information and assistance to the Commission.
The first meeting ofthe Commission was held on Tuesday, August 18, 2009, and deliberations have
continued since then. In late August the Commission distributed a brochure to all households in
Alberta explainingits workandinvitingwritten comments and appearances atits public hearings.
As required by the Act, the Commission held a series of public hearings across the province in
September and October. Complete transcripts and audio files of the hearings, as well as written
submissions received, are available on the Commission's website at www.altaebc.ab.ca. A list of
persons making presentations at the hearings is provided in Appendix B. The Commission has
considered the submissions made to it in writing and during the hearings and is now issuing its
Interim Report. In a second series ofpublic hearings, to be scheduled as required duringthe period
April 12 to 30, 2010, the Commission will receive comments on this report and will issue its Final
ReportbyJuly22, 2010.
In undertaking its work, the Commission has been guided by the requirements ofthe Act, relevant
decisions of the courts, advice received at the public hearings and in written submissions, and by
common sense.
THE LAW
TheActdirects the Commission to divide the province into 87 electoral divisions, with a population
within 25% ofthe provincialaverage,in awaythatwiU ensure effective representation forAlbertans.
The^<;/provides as follows:
13 The Commission shaUdivideAlbertainto 87 proposed electoral divisions.
RSA2000 cE-3 sl3;2009 cl9 s4
15(1) The population ofa proposed electoral division must not be more than 25%
above nor more than 25% below the average population ofall the proposed
electoral divisions.
1
To assist in ensuring effective representation, the Act also provides that up to four special
consideration electoral divisions may have populations as much as 50% below the provincial
average:
15(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), in the case of no more than 4 of the proposed
electoral divisions, if the Commission is of the opinion that at least 3 of the
following criteria exist in a proposed electoral division, the proposed electoral
division mayhave a population thatis as much as 50% below the average population
ofaU the proposed electoral divisions:
a) the area ofthe proposed electoral division exceeds 20,000 square kilometres or
the total surveyed area ofthe proposed electoral division exceeds 15,000 square
kilometres;
b) the distance from the Legislature Building in Edmonton to the nearest
boundary of the proposed electoral division by the most direct highway route
is more than 150 kilometres;
c) there is no town in the proposed electoral division that has a population
exceeding 8,000 people;
d) the area of the proposed electoral division contains an Indian Reserve or a
Metis Settiement;
e) the proposed electoral division has a portion ofits boundary coterminous with
aboundary ofthe Province ofAlberta.
(3) For the purpose of subsection (2)(c), The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass is not a
town.
RSA 2000 cE-13 sl5;2009 cl9 s5
The Act also references the guarantee of effective representation found in the Canadian Charter of
RightsandFreedomsand Hsts factorswhich mustbe considered.
14 In determining the area to be included in and in fixing the boundaries ofthe
proposed electoral divisions, the Commission, subject to section 15, maytake
into consideration any factors it considers appropriate, but shall take into
consideration
(a) the requirement for effective representation as guaranteed by the
Canadian CharterofRightsandFreedoms,
(b) sparsityand densityofpopulation,
(c) common community interests and community organizations, including
those ofIndian reserves andMetis settlements,
(d) wherever possible, the existing community boundaries within the cities
ofEdmonton and Calgary,
(e) whereverpossible, the existingmunicipal boundaries,
(f) the number ofmunicipalities and otherlocal authorities,
geographical features, includingexistingroad systems, and
(g)
(h) the desirabilityofunderstandable and clearboundaries.
1990 cE-4.01 sl6;1993 c2 sl2;1995 clO sl2
Section 3 ofthe Canadian CharterofRightsandFreedoms states: "Every citizen ofCanada has the right
to vote in an election ofmembers ofthe House ofCommons or ofa legislative assembly and to be
qualified formembership therein."
2