EDMONTON – Alberta’s United Conservative Party has rejected a new electoral map proposed by the province’s bipartisan boundaries commission, instead opting to use a map that creates an electoral district for each of the 928,900 Albertans who voted for the UCP in 2023.
“I can’t wait to see who runs for office in Calgary-Fish Creek-Gary Clarkson Jr.,” said Calgary’s Gary Clarkson Jr. “I just hope that whoever wins will put the interests of this district’s resident first.”
While some critics have accused the UCP of rigging the new map in its favour, Premier Danielle Smith insists that it better reflects the demographics of modern Alberta.
“In a healthy democracy, it’s important that everyone who likes me has their voice heard,” Smith said. “Of course, since we’ll have to enlarge the Legislative Assembly roughly 11,000 times over, some of those voices will really have to shout.”
With Alberta’s next election less than a year away, fierce campaigning has already begun in many of the new districts.
“There are signs up all over Lethbridge-West-Susan Douglas,” said a resident of Lethbridge-West-Susan Douglas. “I put one in the front yard and one in the backyard.”
Some voters report feeling energized by the electoral shakeup, while others remain cynical about politics.
“I never thought I’d do this, but I’m actually thinking of running for office in Chestermere-Strathmore-Karen Keating,” said Chestermere’s Karen Keating. “I think I can really speak to what this district wants.”
Conversely, a resident of Leduc-Beaumont-Trent Wilkins who wished to remain anonymous told reporters, “Honestly, I’m not sure if I’ll even bother to vote next year. It’s not like one vote ever makes a difference.”
At press time, the Alberta NDP had announced plans to challenge the constitutional validity of the new electoral map before a court of 1.3 million judges.
