Strengthening Lethbridge’s voice in Edmonton
By Lethbridge Herald on October 11, 2025.
Nathan Neudorf
Lethbridge East MLA
Over the past six years as MLA for Lethbridge-East, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with residents, businesses, and local governments across both the city and surrounding counties. In southern Alberta, the relationship between urban and rural communities is far more collaborative than some may realize. Families from the county rely on Lethbridge for health care, education, and commerce, while city employers depend on rural labour and agricultural inputs. These connections are real, ongoing, and vital to our shared prosperity.
This lived experience shaped my submission to the Electoral Boundaries Commission. I encouraged them to consider the regional interdependence between Lethbridge and its neighbouring communities—not to override municipal boundaries or dilute urban representation, but to explore models that might enhance advocacy for both urban and rural residents through a more integrated approach. My submission was not a formal proposal to split the city into four rural-urban ridings, nor did it include any maps or drawings. It was a conceptual reflection based on my experience representing Lethbridge-East.
I believe in fair and effective democratic representation. Cities like Medicine Hat, with significantly smaller populations than Lethbridge, currently have two ridings—just like us. Yet Lethbridge has over 55,000 more residents. That discrepancy matters. It means our voice in Edmonton is not as strong as it should be.
Lethbridge is Alberta’s third-largest city and deserves additional representation in government. With the province adding two new seats—bringing the total from 87 to 89—those seats will likely go to the fastest-growing communities like Calgary and/or Edmonton, further shifting the current metro/urban/rural balance. Therefore, at the very least, a consideration of the voice for mid-sized cities like Lethbridge should be contemplated by the Electoral Boundaries Commission.
While I do not believe four ridings is a feasible solution, at this time, I do see merit in exploring a three-riding model that includes some rural areas. This would better reflect our population size and regional dynamics. Importantly, a four-riding model would not achieve population balance between urban and rural areas, and could unintentionally skew representation. In fact, such a model could give one party—namely the NDP, who have held seats in this region in recent history—a significant advantage, potentially allowing them to win all four seats, rather than the one or two they currently hold.
I respect the Commission’s mandate and support a process grounded in transparency, public input, and democratic principles. I encourage all Albertans to participate in the review process and share their perspectives. Representation matters—and it should reflect the realities of our communities.
Thank you for engaging in this important conversation.
9-8
U can use all the pretty words to justify 4 ridings but the accurate word is gerrymandering. U desperately want to keep ur do nothing job and rig the boundaries so ur separatist party may win a few more seats. Nice try.
If we were to get representation in the legislature, we would require an MLA that didn’t think it was okay to pollute our drinking and irrigation water with upstream coal mining. In other words, if you want Lethbridge to have more representation, then represent us.
Careful on here folks TDS is/has morphed to UCPDS and SDS.
Congrats on ur use of capital letters and secret codes.