Ted Morton

Bragg Creek could have a new MLA to vote for in the next provincial election.

The hamlet, currently represented by Conservative Foothills-Rocky View MLA Ted Morton, could be pulled into the Banff-Cochrane riding according to recommendations from the Electoral Boundaries Commission, which released its interim report for provincial election boundaries changes Feb. 25.

Another big change is the addition of four seats, bringing the Alberta legislature to 87 seats: two in Calgary, one in Edmonton and one in Fort McMurray.
Conservative Banff-Cochrane MLA Janis Tarchuk said the recommendations could actually simplify things in her riding.

In the last provincial election newly annexed land in Cochrane still fell into the Foothills-Rocky View riding, so some neighbours who lived across the street from each other in Sunset Ridge were in two different ridings.

“But overall not a huge amount of changes for us,” said Tarchuk.

Brian Evans, the former MLA for Banff-Cochrane from 1989 to 1997 and member of the electoral boundary commission, said the riding reflects more of the riding that was under his term — including Bragg Creek.

He said the commission’s biggest challenge was the rapidly growing corridor between Edmonton and Calgary — which effects Conservative Foothills-Rocky View MLA Ted Morton who could see some big changes — even a name change to Carstairs-Rocky View.

The commission recommends the area south of Tsuu T’ina Nation should be added to the Highwood riding from the Foothills-Rocky View division, and the area east of Highway 22 is added to the existing Banff-Cochrane division — including Bragg Creek but not Redwood Meadows.

The area of the existing Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills division south of Highway 582 and east of Highway 766 is proposed for the new Rocky View riding, as is the area of the existing Airdrie-Chestermere division north of Township Road 260.

Morton said he wants to talk to his board and communities before he makes a decision on whether or not to support the recommended changes.

“Not everyone is happy,” said Morton.

The proposed boundary changes are now back on the table for public feedback until April 2, 2010.

Based on this feedback, a second series of public hearings will be held from April 12 to 30 before finalizing the electoral boundaries and names.

A final report will be submitted to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly by July, 2010.

If approved by the Legislative Assembly in the fall the new electoral map will be used for the next provincial election.

To make your comments heard, visit www.altaebc.ab.ca.

Alberta’s total population, according to the commission, is 3,556,583. Based on this number, electoral divisions should have an average population of 40,880, and the goal is to have electoral divisions within +/- 25 per cent of this average.

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