Electoral boundary changes proposed for Central Alberta

PONOKA -- New provincial electoral boundaries are being proposed for Central Alberta.

This is according to Alberta's Electoral Boundaries Commission, which is considering plans to split the currently provincial constituency of 'Lacombe-Ponoka' into two separate ridings. The electoral district was created during the 2003 boundary redistribution, mainly from the abolished former districts of 'Lacombe-Stettler' and 'Ponoka-Rimbey'.

If the proposed changes move ahead, Ponoka would join the newly created riding of ‘Wetaskiwin-Maskwacis-Ponoka’. This riding would also include the rest of the County, Rimbey, the four unincorporated municipalities of Maskwacis, Wetaskiwin, and Millet. The proposed district's southern boundary would be located along Highway 605.

South of the Highway would be the new riding of ‘Lacombe-Rocky Mountain House’. This new constituency would encompass Lacombe, Bentley, Blackfalds, Clive, Alix, Eckville, and Rocky Mountain House, which would serve as the riding's western boundary between Mountainview-Kneehill and Banff-Jasper. 

Premier Danielle Smith says the adjustments to the province's electoral boundaries is mostly due to what she describes as "hundreds of thousands" of newcomers entering the province over the past several years. 

The Electoral Boundaries Commission will be hosting a series of public meetings to hear feedback on the recommendations contained in its Interim Report later this month. For Central Alberta, the meetings will be held virtually on Jan. 15 and 16. Following the consultation process, the province says that a final decision on its proposed boundary changes will take place in March.

We'll have more on this story as it becomes available.