Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills Wildrose Party Constituency Association president Michael Robertson doesn't want to see the riding's boundaries changed much, if at all.
But if they do have to change, he's urging the province's Electoral Boundaries Commission to ensure they're expanded to take in rural residents rather than taking in parts of Airdrie as happened when riding boundaries were changed in the late '90s.
Robertson gave that advice when he appeared before the Electoral Boundaries Commission's hearing in Olds Jan. 25 at the Ramada Inn.
Robertson told the commission he has lived and worked in the riding all his life, having been raised on a seven-generation family farm where he lives to this day. He also works in Three Hills as a teacher.
"It is clear that these borders are more than just arbitrary lines on a map to us. We actually understand and identify with them as part of our current and historical heritage," Robertson said.
He said population, industry and needs of the communities within Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills are "largely homogenous in nature" and thus should be kept together in a single riding.
"I live and work in the western and eastern extremes of Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. But for all intents and purposes, I see a single group of people with a singular, unbreakable bond," Robertson said.
"Whether public or private school, adult or teenager, I have witnessed over and over again how similar in mindset and values my fellow citizens are.
"Oh sure, we disagree with each other from time to time, but it's more for sport and entertainment than anything else. When the chips are down and the ballots cast, the harvest needs to come in, we all pull together as one community here," he added.
Robertson cited the example of last fall's harvest. He said residents across the riding volunteered to help farmers get their crops in when the weather "refused to cooperate" for more than 10 days.
"I implore the commission to leave our riding largely untouched in the redistribution rather than threatening to slice it up," Robertson said.
"I realize that was a different commission, different time. But they wanted to slice it into three pieces and divide it so that my grandparents, who I can see from my house, would be in a different riding than me. And my neighbours to the south who helped us, would be in a different riding than that.
"I understand that it's a difficult job. But the people who live in this riding are more than just constituents drawn together arbitrarily. They're my neighbours, friends and family," he added.
He said it was proven that ridings featuring urban and rural residents don't work between 1993 and 1996 when two ridings: Olds-Didsbury and Three Hills contained parts of Airdrie.
"No one in either riding - urban or rural - was particularly happy with the representation they were getting. Not because of the MLAs -- and let me be clear on that. It was simply a case of different needs and interests," he said.
Robertson was asked how he'd like to see the boundaries of Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills changed if that's deemed necessary.
He suggested moving the boundary further east into Kneehill County or south toward - but not into - Airdrie.
Robertson recommended against expanding the borders west to include Sundre and area, saying once you cross Highway 22, the land becomes less agricultural and more parkland, where forestry is more of a significant industry.
"It is clear that these borders are more than just arbitrary lines on a map to us. We actually understand and identify with them as part of our current and historical heritage."MICHAEL ROBERTSON PRESIDENT OLDS-DIDSBURY-THREE HILLS WILDROSE CONSTITUENCY ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT
