New proposed provincial electoral boundaries in southern Alberta. (Image Credit: Electoral Boundaries Commission of Alberta)

By David Opinko

New proposal for southern Alberta electoral boundaries, Coaldale opposed

Jan 13, 2026 | 1:27 PM

An updated set of recommendations has been released on how Alberta’s provincial ridings should be divided.

The interim report submitted in October 2025 by the Electoral Boundaries Commission of Alberta makes some sizable changes from the one in the summer.

One of the big changes is the elimination of many of the proposed urban-rural hybrids.

A previous proposal to the Commission would have split Lethbridge into four such hybrids, but that is no longer the case in the updated version.

The Commission notes that “there was significant opposition to creating hybrid electoral divisions,” as urban and rural centres often have differing interests and needs.

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Now, they are recommending that Lethbridge’s two provincial ridings largely stay the same, but there will be a couple of slight differences.

The boundaries of Lethbridge-East would be slightly expanded in the new proposal.

13 Street will serve as the main border within the city, which the report notes was a recommendation from local historian Belinda Crowson.

The East riding in Lethbridge would have a population of 57,463, while 53,937 people would live in the West.

This is to accommodate the fact that the population in Lethbridge-West has grown faster than in Lethbridge-East, and it is forecast to remain this way in the coming years.

Maps of the proposed boundaries in southern Alberta can be found at the bottom of this article.

Another proposed change is not sitting well with the Town of Coaldale.

Mayor Jack Van Rijn, along with the rest of town council, voted this week to submit a letter to the Commission, saying they want to stay in their current riding of Taber-Warner.

The recommendation is that Coaldale join an updated Livingstone-Macleod district, which would have it represented alongside communities such as Picture Butte, Nobleford, Fort Macleod, Crowsnest Pass, Waterton, and, depending on two possible options, Nanton.

“It makes no sense to me, whatsoever,” says Van RIjn. “I say this with all respect – what does Coaldale have to do with Livingstone-Macleod?”

He tells LNN that Coaldale functions east-to-west, not north-to-south.

It is part of Canada’s Premier Food Corridor, a subregion that spans Coalhurst to Burdett, including Lethbridge, Taber, Lethbridge County and the Municipal District of Taber.

“Our residents, they commute daily to Lethbridge and Taber for work, education, healthcare, services. The lived reality should be reflected in the electoral boundary,” says Van Rijn.

He continues, “We’re not asking for special treatment or new seats – only that Coaldale not be separated from the corridor system that we depend on each and every single day.”

The mayor wrote in his letter to the commission that any boundary that separates Coaldale from this corridor risks weakening representation rather than improving it.

Van Rijn adds that he, council, and many residents in Coaldale are happy with the work of Taber-Warner MLA Grant Hunter, and wish to continue to be represented by him.

Hunter began 2026 by being sworn in as Alberta’s new environment minister.

READ MORE: Taber-Warner MLA sworn in as Alberta’s environment minister

The proposal would also see the elimination of the Cardston-Siksika riding. The southern and eastern parts of that district would be absorbed into an expanded Cardston-Taber-Warner riding, while the northern section would become part of both Livingstone-Macleod and the new High River-Vulcan riding.

The report states that the proposed alterations to Cardston-Taber-Warner and Livingstone-Macleod are being made to reflect changes in population distribution.

“This keeps Lethbridge County in a single electoral division. In a similar vein, portions of the MD of Taber, which were previously not in Taber-Warner, are recommended for inclusion in Cardston-Taber-Warner, to better balance population and use municipal boundaries to create clear lines,” reads the Electoral Boundaries Commission’s report.

It continues, “By and large, these new boundaries facilitate effective representation by bringing together Lethbridge County, the Municipal Districts of Willow Creek, Pincher Creek, and Ranchland, as well as Waterton Lakes National Park, and the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass. These are communities of interest in rural Southern Alberta and can be effectively represented.”

The Commission is set to host a handful of virtual public meetings on the proposed boundary changes.

Events on January 15 and 16 will focus on the south and central regions of Alberta. You can register online here.

The full report from the Electoral Boundaries Commission can be found here, while you can view maps of all of the proposed ridings here.

New proposed provincial riding for Lethbridge-West (Image Credit: Electoral Boundaries Commission of Alberta)

New proposed provincial riding in Lethbridge-East. (Image Credit: Electoral Boundaries Commission of Alberta)

New proposed provincial riding in Cardston-Taber-Warner. (Image Credit: Electoral Boundaries Commission of Alberta)

New proposed provincial riding in Livingstone-Macleod. (Image Credit: Electoral Boundaries Commission of Alberta)