Province approves new electoral constituency for Ponoka

PONOKA -- Changes to electoral ridings in Central Alberta were approved this week in the Alberta Legislature. 

This followed a report filed by the Independent Advisory Panel on Electoral Boundaries, which called for the currently existing provincial riding of Lacombe-Ponoka to be split into two separate constituencies. For next year's provincial election, the Town of Ponoka and the surrounding county will form a new riding entitled "Wetaskiwin-Ponoka". This will essentially serve as an expanded version of the current riding of "Wetaskiwin-Maskwacis."

"The most significant change here is the inclusion of Ponoka in the electoral division," reads the panel's report. "Ponoka is currently in an electoral division with Lacombe. The 2025-2026 Electoral Boundaries Commission recommended moving Ponoka into this electoral division. The advisory panel concurs." 

The new riding of "Wetaskiwin-Ponoka" will include Wetaskiwin, Ponoka, Maskwacis, Rimbey, as well as Pigeon Lake, Falun, and Westerose. The reports showed that the new riding would also stretch as far west as Buck Lake and Alder Flats. In total, the estimated population for the entire riding is 54,034.

Meantime, the changes also include the creation of a new riding dubbed "Lacombe-Sylvan Lake". This will encompass Lacombe, Sylvan Lake, Bentley, Blackfalds, Alix, and Gull Lake. The estimated population for this riding is 54,055.