Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is the Chairman of the Electoral Boundaries Commission?

The Honourable Judge Ernest J.M. Walter was appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council to chair the 2009/2010 Electoral Boundaried Commission on July 21, 2009.

• Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on December 12, 1940; married Lucille Bosnjak in 1964. Ernie and Lucille have three children (Lisa MacCuish, Michael Walter & Hilary Calder) and six grandchildren
• Raised and educated in Paradise Valley, Alberta.
• Attended University of Alberta and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (1963) and a Bachelor of Laws (1964).
• Articled with the Edmonton law firm of Brownlee, Fryett and joined that firm in 1965; remained as a partner, specializing in administrative, municipal and regulatory law, until 1992.
• Appointed a Judge of the Provincial Court of Alberta, Edmonton Criminal Division, on August 17, 1992.
• Appointed Assistant Chief Judge, Edmonton Rural, on May 1, 1996.
• Appointed Chief Judge of The Provincial Court of Alberta on May 12, 1999.
• Throughout his career as a lawyer, Judge Walter was involved with the Canadian Bar Association (Municipal & Environmental law branches); he has lectured at University of Alberta & Grant MacEwan Community College. He was extensively involved with the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties, the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association and the Federation of Alberta Gas Co-ops; community organizations such as St. Anthony's College Alumni, the United Way, NAIT Advisory Board, Canadian Diabetes Association, Friends of the Faculty of Law, and Habitat for Humanity.
• Judge Walter has received numerous awards and recognition for his public service, including the University of Alberta Alumni Association 'Award of Excellence'.
• Judge Walter led the Provincial Court through significant accomplishments, including the establishment of family protection courts and a drug treatment court in Edmonton; expansion of an early case resolution process; establishment of a specialized court on the Tsuu T'ina Reserve; extension of video-conference court appearances throughout the province; adoption of increased technology to enhance court scheduling; and commencement of construction of a new Court facility in Calgary.

2. Who are the members of the Electoral Boundaries Commission?

Four members have been appointed to the Commission, in addition to the Chairman. Two members are appointed by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly on the nomination of the Leader of Her Majesty’s loyal opposition in consultation with the leaders of the other opposition parties represented in the Legislative Assembly, and two are appointed by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly on the nomination of the President of the Executive Council. The Commission members include Keith Archer, Peter Dobbie, Brian Evans and Allyson Jeffs.

• Keith Archer received a PhD in Political Science from Duke University in 1985. He has been a professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Calgary since 1984, where he also served terms as Associate Vice-President (Research) and Interim Vice-President (Research).
  
  He also holds an appointment as Director of Research at The Banff Centre.
  
  He is the author, co-author or co-editor of 7 books and many articles and book chapters on Canadian and Alberta politics, with an emphasis on the study of voting and elections. He resides in Banff.

• Peter J. Dobbie and his family have lived on their farm in the County of Minburn since 1992.
  
  Peter obtained his BA in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario and his MBA and LLB degrees from the University of Alberta and has written and presented professional papers for the Legal Education Society of Alberta, the Canadian Bar Association and for industry groups. He is a former chair of the Vegreville and District Economic Development Board, and is a busy volunteer in the local and regional community. Peter is a partner with the law firm Duncan & Craig LLP and carries on active business, agricultural, finance and estate legal practice.

• Brian Evans has been the Executive Director of the Werklund Group since August, 2006. Recently, Mr. Evans practiced law with Miller Thomson LLP in Calgary. Prior to that he was the MLA for Banff-Cochrane for two terms during which he also served firstly as Minister of Environmental Protection and secondly as Minister of Justice & Attorney General.
  
  Mr. Evans began his legal career with Emery Jamieson in Edmonton before establishing his own firm in Canmore.

• Allyson Jeffs is an associate with the law firm Ackroyd LLP in Edmonton where she practices civil litigation. Prior to being called to the bar in 2007, she worked as a journalist for the Edmonton Journal and the Calgary Herald. During her time as a reporter she covered the Alberta Legislature, civic affairs in both Edmonton and Calgary and social justices issues with a focus on child welfare.

3. When was the Electoral Boundaries Commission appointed?

The Electoral Boundaries Commission was appointed on July 31, 2009.

4. How often is an Electoral Boundaries Commission appointed?

Legislation directs that a Commission was to be appointed by July 31, 2009.

A subsequent Commission is to be appointed during the first session of the Legislature following the 2nd general election after the appointment of this Commission. It shall not be appointed sooner than 8 years, nor later than 10 years, after the appointment of the 2009/2010 Commission.

5. When was the last Commission appointed?

The last Commission was appointed on March 25, 2002 and submitted its final report of recommendations to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly on February 3, 2003.

6. Why has the Electoral Boundaries Commission been appointed?

The Electoral Boundaries Commission is established to review the existing electoral boundaries and make proposals to the Legislative Assembly as to the area, boundaries and names of the electoral divisions of Alberta. This review is done to ensure that Albertans have effective representation in the Legislative Assembly.

7. Which law governs the activities of the Electoral Boundaries Commission?

8. What will the Electoral Boundaries Commission do?

The Electoral Boundaries Commission will review the existing electoral boundaries and make proposals to the Legislative Assembly as to the area, boundaries and names of the electoral divisions of Alberta. This review is done to ensure that Albertans have effective representation in the Legislative Assembly.

The Electoral Boundaries Commission will consult Albertans throughout this process. Public input will be considered by the Electoral Boundaries Commission in making recommendations to the Legislative Assembly.

The Commission is to divide Alberta into 87 proposed electoral divisions by taking the following into consideration:

• the requirement for effective representation as guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,
• sparsity and density of population,
• common community interests and community organizations, including those of Indian reserves and Metis settlements,
• wherever possible, the existing community boundaries within the cities of Edmonton and Calgary,
• wherever possible, the existing municipal boundaries,
• the number of municipalities and other local authorities,
• geographical features, including existing road systems,
• the desirability of understandable and clear boundaries, and
• any other factors the Commission considers appropriate.

The population of a proposed electoral division must not vary more than 25% from the provincial average, except in up to four special consideration electoral divisions which may be up to 50% below the provincial average. Proposed special consideration electoral divisions must meet at least three of the criteria detailed in the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act.

The Electoral Boundaries Commission will submit two reports to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly: an interim report in February 2010 and a final report by July 2010.

9. What is the timetable for activities of the Electoral Boundaries Commission?

• September, 2009 - Notification provided to each household in the province
• September 16 to October 9, 2009 - First round of public hearings to obtain public input
• February 26, 2010 - Deadline for release of interim report
• April 2, 2010 - Deadline for written submissions on interim report
• April 12 to 30, 2010 - Second round of public hearings to obtain public input
• July 30, 2010 - Deadline for release of final report

10. What is the acceptable population range for proposed electoral divisions?

Legislation allows for a 25% variance in population from the provincial average. This means that each electoral division must have a population of 40,880, on average, with the exception of up to four special consideration electoral divisions. Special consideration electoral divisions* are allowed a variance of up to 50% below the provincial average (that is, they may have a population as low as 20,440).

The 2006 federal census, excluding people on Indian reserves who didn't participate in the census, results in an Alberta population of 3,290,350. If you divide that by 87, the number of electoral divisions, you will see the average population per electoral division is 37,820

The Commission, however, may consider additional population information reflecting recent growth as it proceeds with its review. Using the 2009 Official Population List, the total Alberta population being considered by the Commission has been calculated as follows:

The average population per electoral division for 87 divisions now being considered by the Commission is 40,880.

*Proposed special consideration electoral divisions must meet at least three of the criteria detailed in the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act, which include:

• the area of the proposed electoral division exceeds 20,000 square kilometres or the total surveyed area of the proposed electoral division exceeds 15,000 square kilometres,
• the distance from the Legislature Building in Edmonton to the nearest boundary of the proposed electoral division by the most direct highway route is more than 150 kilometres,
• there is no town in the proposed electoral division that has a population exceeding 8,000 people,
• the area of the proposed electoral division contains an Indian reserve or a Metis settlement,
• the proposed electoral division has a portion of its boundary coterminous with a boundary of the Province of Alberta.

11. What are the populations of the proposed electoral divisions and their variance to the provincial average?

12. Why are some populations significantly above the quotient?

In many cases, populations significantly above the quotient are the result of the people informing the Commission that maintaining communities of interest, including the decision not to split residential communities, is more important than having a population closer to the quotient.

13. How many electoral divisions will be in the province following the review?

Legislation directs that Alberta will be divided into 87 electoral divisions.

14. What did the Electoral Boundaries Commission consider in making its decisions?

The Commission took the following into consideration:

• the requirement for effective representation as guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,
• sparsity and density of population,
• common community interests and community organizations, including those of Indian reserves and Metis settlements,
• wherever possible, the existing community boundaries within the cities of Edmonton and Calgary,
• wherever possible, the existing municipal boundaries,
• the number of municipalities and other local authorities,
• geographical features, including existing road systems,
• the desirability of understandable and clear boundaries, and
• any other factors the Commission considers appropriate.

The population of a proposed electoral division must not vary more than 25% from the provincial average; that is, the population must be between 30,660 and 51,100. An exception may be made in up to four special consideration electoral divisions which may be up to 50% below the provincial average (that is, they may have a population as low as 20,440).

Proposed special consideration electoral divisions must meet at least three of the criteria detailed in the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act, which include:

• the area of the proposed electoral division exceeds 20,000 square kilometres or the total surveyed area of the proposed electoral division exceeds 15,000 square kilometres
• the distance from the Legislature Building in Edmonton to the nearest boundary of the proposed electoral division by the most direct highway route is more than 150 kilometres,
• there is no town in the proposed electoral divisions that has a population exceeding 8,000 people,
• the area of the proposed electoral division contains an Indian reserve or a Metis settlement,
• the proposed electoral division has a portion of its boundary coterminous with a boundary of the Province of Alberta.

15. How can I contact the Electoral Boundaries Commission?

The Office of the Electoral Boundaries Commission can be contacted:

16. When will the new electoral boundaries take effect?

After the final report of the Electoral Boundaries Commission is provided to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Speaker will lay the report before the Legislative Assembly. If the Assembly approves, or approves with alterations, the recommendations of the Commission, a Bill will be introduced to establish new electoral divisions. The Bill will come into force on Proclamation and, if enacted, will be effective before the holding of the next provincial general election.