Work is underway to redraw the federal electoral boundaries in Saskatchewan and Manitoba and add seats in Alberta.
The three-person independent commission established in each province will publish proposals. Public hearings will then follow before the new boundaries are accepted.
In Saskatchewan, the commission headed by Queen’s Bench justice Ronald C. Mills will consider that although the province isn’t getting more seats, its population has risen from 978,933 to 1,033,381 in the time since the boundaries were last redrawn in 2002.
A news release issued March 26 noted that readjusting the 14 boundaries must also consider communities of interest or identity, a district’s history and geographic size.
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The commission, which also includes University of Saskatchewan political scientist John Courtney and Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities president David Marit, is accepting comments until April 15 on what the initial proposal might look like.
Manitoba’s commission is headed by appeal court judge Richard Chartier and includes Brandon University political scientist Kelly Saunders and Paul Thomas, professor emeritus of political studies and a member of two previous commissions.
The province also has 14 ridings.
Alberta’s commission has the task of redrawing the existing 28 ridings into 34.
Appeal court judge Carole Conrad is chairing the commission. Members are realtor and long-time returning officer for Elections Canada, Ed Eggerer, and Donna Wilson, an expert in electoral administration.
