New electoral boundaries in Medicine Hat for provincial election

The majority of Medicine Hat residents used to be in the Brooks-Medicine Hat electoral district.

Now, the two districts essentially split the city in half.

The majority of the boundary runs along South Saskatchewan River, but when it hits Highway 1, it runs up the road until Highway 41-A. Then, it turns down 41-A until it hits 1 street SE, and runs along the river again.

Every eight to 10 years the provincial electoral boundaries commission reviews all the provincial boundaries, changing them based on geography and population shifts.

“They concluded their review of all the electoral boundaries in October of 2017 and the boundaries they proposed and recommended were approved by the provincial legislature in December of 2017,” says Drew Westwater, deputy chief electoral officer for Elections Alberta. “But they didn’t come into effect until yesterday.”

According to Medicine Hat’s 2009 and 2016 census, the city’s population has grown by 2,109 people, possibly causing the change.

“So for candidates, incumbents, those that are used to the old boundaries,” says Westwater. “They might have to run in different geographic areas now or have a smaller area or a larger area that they previously had.”

Cypress-Medicine Hat UCP candidate Drew Barnes says the boundaries are closer in size than they they used to be, giving him an advantage.

“It’ll be two constituencies roughly equally balanced, and Cypress-Medicine Hat instead of just being 20% of Medicine Hat,” says Barnes. “It’ll be roughly 55% of Medicine Hat now, that will hopefully give me a louder voice and the representative of Cypress-Medicine Hat.”

However, Cypress-Medicine Hat NDP Candidate Peter Mueller says he’s seen some confusion in the community.

“The average citizen is a little bit confused,” says Mueller.

“Areas like Crestwood, the Flats, Connaught, the Southeast hill are now part of Cypress-Medicine Hat,” says Barnes. “Of course a lot of those Medicine Hatters didn’t know.”

Barnes, who is seeking his third term in the legislature, says that could pose an issue.

“It’s important for consistency that people know who their MLA is,” says Barnes. “Know who their representatives are so there was some concern with that and change.”

Each party is working to educate the public on the change.

“We are about to send out 15,000 post cards that say that so people will know that they’re part of Cypress-Medicine Hat,” says Barnes. “They should be in Medicine Hatters mailboxes in the next three days.”

The local NDP office is also mailing out information and setting up signs.

“My signs have my name on them and that should be clear that that’s my riding,” says Mueller. “The other one is Lynn (MacWilliam’s) riding.”

To find out more about which electoral district you’re in, visit elections.ab.ca or call them at 1-877-422-8683.

The spring provincial election is set for April 16 2019.

by Jessie Weisner

New electoral boundaries in Medicine Hat for provincial election

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