Westlock, Athabasca, Barrhead riding proposed

Both area MLAs, as well as Westlock’s mayor, are opposed to the Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission’s recommendation to join the Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock and Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater constituencies into a new riding.

The commission’s final report, which was released on Oct. 19, recommends the creation of a new Athabasca-Barrhead riding that encompasses the counties of Westlock, Barrhead, Thorhild and Smoky Lake. It would stretch as far west as Swan Hills and as far east as Mallaig and St. Vincent.

The Village of Legal and Town of Morinville would move into a new riding called Morinville-St. Albert, while the Hamlet of Busby would become part of the riding of Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland.

Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock MLA Glenn van Dijken said that in his opinion, the commission “failed to recognize the need for equitable representation.”

Travelling from Swan Hills to St. Vincent is at least a three-and-a-half-hour drive, assuming there’s no traffic and the roads are good, he said. As well, every municipal council and every school board has work for their MLA to do.

In a riding the size of Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock, it was manageable.

“The size is just, in my opinion, not acceptable.”

According to the commission’s report, he new riding’s population would be 46,920, which is “virtually at provincial average population size.”

van Dijken said he was concerned the commission put way too much weight on population numbers, whereas their focus should have been effective representation for all Albertans.

“I just find it very alarming that the Electoral Boundaries Commission feels that one MLA can represent a riding that is 300 kilometres wide and feels that’s equal representation to an Edmonton or Calgary MLA who’s representing a riding that’s maybe five-10 miles wide. How does that make any sense?”

Acknowledging he hadn’t extensively studied the other ridings proposed by the commission, van Dijken indicated that it was quite concerning if rural Alberta was being left with diluted representation.

Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater Colin Piquette agreed. He pointed out that communities may hold events that do not conflict with other events in their area, but the size of the district means there will be events across county boundaries often running at the same time.

“There’s only one of me,” he said. “It’s not like a city riding where you might have multiple MLAs that can attend these events or they can send substitutes. Most of the time, I’m it.”

One such example, which he brought up to the commission, is Remembrance Day. Piquette said there’s “literally no way” he could attend ceremonies occurring in Smoky Lake, Athabasca, Barrhead, Westlock and other communities at the same time. He added that he wishes the commission had used the population variance allowed in the legislation.

Piquette said “if push comes to shove” he would try to find a way to an effective MLA, but would continue to advocate for a more reasonably sized rural riding.

Piquette noted the report would be brought to the Alberta Legislature later this year and there would be the potential to enact more changes.

“I guess what I’ll be doing is talking to stakeholders and residents to get a lead on how they feel about it and bring their concerns before Legislature,” he said.

Town of Westlock mayor Ralph Leriger said that at first glance, he wondered why Westlock — the most central and largest urban population in the riding — had been left out of the name.

“That might seem trivial to some, but … I feel slighted,” he said. “As the largest urban centre, we should garner some attention at least.”

Leriger said the proposed riding looks somewhat similar to what was in the “olden days,” when Westlock was grouped together with Athabasca in a riding named after the latter community. Progressive Conservative MLA Frank Appleby represented the riding from 1971 to 1986.

Leriger said he thought the proposed riding would be very difficult for an MLA to cover.

“It’s a huge geographical area. From east to west and corner to corner, it’s got to be 200 miles across. That adds a significant amount of urban communities that the MLA is expected to liaise with,” he said.

“Think about what our MLA does now for our fairs and Canada Day and all the places they’re expected to go. I’m not sure it’s very realistic.”

Leriger said you might find it logical to link Morinville and St. Albert based on Francophone history, but there’s Francophone communities all over Alberta. “Did they apply the same criteria there as well?” he asked.

With files from Allendria Brunjes & Eric Bowling.