PrintUNA members urged to consider making submissions to federal government's Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission
The Canadian Labour Congress is urging members of affiliated unions such as the United Nurses of Alberta to support civic participation in the electoral distribution process now under way in Alberta.
There will be public hearings on proposed Alberta electoral boundary changes by the federal government's Alberta Electoral Boundary Commission next month, but citizens interested in making a presentation must register by Aug. 10.
Every 10 years after each full Canadian census, the boundaries of Canadian electoral districts, commonly known as "ridings," are redrawn to reflect changes in population. The creation of six additional ridings in Alberta will increase this province's representation in the House of Commons from 28 to 34 Members of Parliament.
Because of population growth citizens of the fastest growing provinces - especially Alberta - are most likely to be under-represented. This is especially true in fast-growing suburban ridings in Alberta's major metropolitan areas with ethnically diverse communities.
While the addition of the extra Alberta seats will help, huge disparities will continue to exist after the redistribution because very large variations in riding size are still permitted.
This means citizens do not have an equal say in who represents us in Ottawa - especially the residents of Canada's largest cities. Some variation in size is inevitable, but Canada has now deviated farther from the principle of one vote per adult citizen than ever in Canadian history, and than in comparable western democracies.
In such ridings as Calgary Southeast, Calgary Nose Hill, Calgary Northeast, Edmonton Spruce Grove and Edmonton Leduc, your vote is worth significantly less than the national average.
Click here for locations and dates of the boundary hearings in Alberta.
