MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Having Mountain View County split between two electoral boundaries – and therefore having two Members of Parliament following the next election – may prove beneficial, including as it relates to lobbying opportunities at the federal level, says reeve Angela Aalbers.
The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Alberta (FEBCA) has concluded the work of redrawing the province’s federal electoral map, which if approved by MPs as expected, will see Sundre, Carstairs, Cremona and a westerly portion of Mountain View in the new Yellowhead riding.
The other parts of Mountain View County, as well as Olds and Didsbury, will be in the new Ponoka-Didsbury riding.
“In consultations with other rural municipalities, we understand that there can be benefits for the county to be represented by more than one member of parliament,” reeve Aalbers told the Albertan.
“We believe having two MPs would give an additional voice at the table. It also could allow for a different perspective and potentially provide access to more lobbying opportunities at the federal level.
“The county looks forward to engaging with both members of parliament that will in future represent our residents and businesses.”
Mountain View County had requested that the FEBC consider a request to retain the municipality within one electoral district.
Established in November 2021, the independent FEBCA has worked to set boundaries so that each electoral district in the province contains roughly the same number of people, while also taking into account communities of interest or identity, historical patterns and geographic size in sparsely populated regions, officials said.
MPs will make the final decision on the proposed new boundaries, which will come into effect at the end of April 2024. If a federal election is called prior to that time, the current boundaries will be used.
Current Red Deer-Mountain View MP Earl Dreeshen, whose riding includes all of Mountain View County, says if he decides to run in the next federal election, it will be in the new Red Deer riding.
