Electoral boundary changes filed with legislative assembly

PONOKA -- Alberta's Electoral Boundaries Commission has submitted its recommendations to the legislative assembly.

Under the proposed changes, the current provincial riding of Lacombe-Ponoka would be broken up into separate constituencies. If the changes are approved this spring, Ponoka would join the new riding of "Wetaskiwin-Ponoka-Maskwacis". In its final report issued Mar. 26, 2026, the commission said that the new electoral division has taken portions of Wetaskiwin and Ponoka Counties from Lacombe-Ponoka and Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre.

"These changes unite the counties, balance populations, and enable the merger of Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre and Lacombe-Ponoka—which the Commission reluctantly considers necessary given the limits imposed on us by the Act," stated the commission in their final report. "By bringing together two counties that are adjacent to each other on the Highway 2 corridor in rural Alberta, the MLA will be able to represent common interests and clear borders."

The Town of Rimbey would also be included in the new "Wetaskiwin-Ponoka-Maskwacis" constituency, as the riding of Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre is set to be dissolved. The changes would also see Lacombe form the new riding of "Lacombe-Clearwater". 

"It is recommended that all portions of Lacombe County presently in Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre be moved to this electoral division, along with all portions of Lacombe County west of Highways 2 and 2A, including the City of Lacombe and Town of Blackfalds," said the commission. "It is further recommended that all of Clearwater County, including the Town of Rocky Mountain House, be included in this electoral division. This balances the populations of the electoral divisions in the Highway 2 corridor."

These electoral boundary changes will not become official until being fully adopted in the Alberta legislature.