Amery, Nenshi spoke about Alberta Electoral Boundaries report

By Lethbridge Herald on April 1, 2026.

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman

Lethbridge Herald

On March 26, the 2025-2026 Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission presented their final report to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. They had presented their interim report in October 2025. 

A Letter to the Speaker presented along with the report partially reads, “After the tabling of our interim report in October 2025, our Commission received more than 1,140 written submissions commenting on our interim report. We also heard further public hearings. Our Commission is grateful for the input of many Albertans who have participated in this process”  

The report is over 300 pages long, and it sets out the commission’s recommendations for the areas, boundaries, and names of the 89 electoral divisions, along with their reasons. Maps for their recommended electoral divisions and requisite justifications are also included.

During a press conference on Monday about Bill 23, Minister of Justice Mickey Amery was asked what he would do with the Boundaries Commission report, and he said they need time to review it. 

“We’re reviewing the reports. It was a large report with a great number of details. We’re looking at all of the options. We, need a little bit more time to assess that,” said Amery. 

He said that one of the things that he found quite interesting was some of the recommendations in that report, including the chairs report about the number of seats.

“That is something that we have to consider as well and will have to assess that and look at it a little bit further,” said Amery. 

Leader of the opposition Naheed Nenshi said Tuesday that the UCP-appointed commissioners, issued a minority report with maps drawn to support the UCP. 

“This had never been done before in Alberta history, and the commission chair says the minority recommendations are likely unconstitutional,” said Nenshi. 

He said Amery opened the door to rigging the next election by indicating the UCP government may take the unprecedented action of failing to implement the report in its entirety by saying ‘all options are on the table.’

“Yet, before he saw the final report, Amery had said repeatedly that government does not draw the boundaries and he would respect an independent process. Now his tune has changed,” said Nenshi. 

He said political interference that would alter the implementation of an independent process in the creation of an electoral map is nothing short of election rigging. 

“It is straight out of the Trump playbook. Effective representation is a constitutional right and not subject to the notwithstanding clause. Anything short of implementing the majority report in its entirety is election rigging,” said Nenshi. 

He said an independent commission worked for 18 months to traverse this province for public input. A majority report was then submitted. 

“With a normal government, this report would be implemented. But because this government has no moral backbone, they are now weighing how much they will cheat to keep themselves in power,” said Nenshi. 

He said Albertans should be outraged at this level of cheating and disrespect.

“We will fight any attempt to rig the next election and we invite Albertans to join us. Danielle Smith has shown her disdain for democracy over and over, but it matters. We won’t let them cheat to win,” said Nenshi.