Redraw of electoral boundaries would present challenging timeline: Elections Alberta

Alberta’s elections agency says a government decision to revisit how provincial ridings are drawn up will be a challenge as the clock ticks toward an October 2027 vote.

Elections Alberta says it needs at least 1 1/2 years to iron out all the details for new ridings.

Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservatives have thrown a wrench into that plan, saying they will be introducing a motion to revisit proposed boundary changes with a fall deadline.

That would leave Elections Alberta with about one year to prepare, and the agency says the short time frame would also lead to higher costs.

The boundaries have become a source of controversy, as recent recommendations on new ridings from a bipartisan panel put forward profoundly different proposals.

The Opposition New Democrats say Smith’s United Conservatives are exploiting that split to redraw the boundaries to favour themselves in the next election – a charge the UCP denies.