Mandate

The Electoral Boundaries Commission must 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.

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 Métis 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 specific criteria detailed in the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act .

Using the 2009 Official Population List, the population of Alberta has increased by 258,945 since the adjusted 2006 census of 3,297,638. The total population being considered by the Commission is 3,556,583.

Using all of this information, the "provincial quotient", or the average population per electoral division, is

____Population	== =	3,556,583	= = =	40,880
# Electoral Divisions		___87

The allowable range for standard electoral divisions under the Act is 51,100 to 30,660 (+/-25%). Any special consideration electoral division could have a population as low as 20,440 (-50%).