Alberta's UCP Expands Legislature, Skips Public Input

0:00It's April 22nd. Welcome to Canada News Today, powered by AI, I'm Corey with the story. Alberta's legislature just voted to scrap the Independent Commission's report on electoral boundaries and handed over to a special MLA committee. The United Conservative Party, with their majority, pushed through a plan to expand from 87 seats to 91, adding four new writings. Ahead of next year's election, they approved it 44-36 after a heated debate. The committee, chaired by UCP MLA Brandon Luntie from Laducca-Bomon, has to deliver its report by November 2nd. This comes about four weeks after the Commission proposed boundaries for 89 seats, as instructed by the government. Now they're building on that work, but aiming higher with 91 total. NDP opposition is fired up, calling it a power grab to draw maps that favor the UCP. Leader Nihid Nenshi slammed the process for skipping public hearings, saying the fixes already in with no room for voter input.

1:00UCP's Tanyao fired back, denying any politicization. The Commission, led by retired Judge Dallas Miller, held public sessions starting March 2025 and recommended sticking to 89 seats. But Miller floated 91 conditionally, only if lawmakers rejected the majority view, a view they never even voted on. This sets up a rush redo, less than a year out from voting day, with MLA's now steering the ship instead of the public or full commission. Eyes will be on that November report to see how the lines get redrawn.