The provincial government is planning to amend the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act.
The plans, which would include increasing the number of electoral divisions in the province, were announced by the government on Tuesday (Nov. 5).
If the amendments are passed there would be two more electoral divisions added to Alberta. However, the new division's locations have not been announced.
According to the current act, the population of each division cannot represent more than 25 per cent of the average population of all electoral divisions. As of now, it applies to nine divisions in Alberta:
- Airdrie-Cochrane.
- Calgary-Buffalo.
- Calgary-Foothills.
- Calgary-North East.
- Calgary-Shaw.
- Calgary-South East.
- Edmonton-Ellerslie.
- Edmonton-South.
- Edmonton-South West.
"Proposed amendments would help address the significant increase in Alberta’s population since the most recent provincial election, and ensure Albertans have effective representation in the legislature," said the provincial government in a news release.
The proposed amendments would also update the list of factors considered when drawing electoral boundaries, including removing a requirement that municipal boundaries be considered.
The amendment could spread ridings between communities, such as Chestermere and Calgary.
According to the legislation, population density and geographical features will be considered when creating the new electoral boundaries.
The last time there was an increase in boundaries was in 2009 when four new seats were created. Since then, the population of Alberta has grown by several million people.