Proposed Boundary Changes Could Unite County of St. Paul Under One Riding

Concerns grow over reduced northern representation while Lakeland gains clearer alignment

The Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission’s new recommendations could bring long-requested clarity for residents of the County of St. Paul, uniting nearly the entire region under a single constituency — Bonnyville–Cold Lake–St. Paul.

St. Paul County Could Finally Sit Within One Riding

Under the proposed changes, the hamlets of Mallaig and Ashmont, currently part of Athabasca–Barrhead–Westlock, would join the Bonnyville–Cold Lake–St. Paul constituency. This shift would mean almost all of the County of St. Paul would fall within one electoral division, aligning more closely with municipal boundaries and regional service ties.

Saddle Lake Cree Nation, however, would move to the proposed Slave Lake–Athabasca–Westlock constituency. The Commission noted this adjustment was necessary to balance population numbers while maintaining effective representation.

Alignment Reflects Local Advocacy

The recommendation follows input from Bonnyville–Cold Lake–St. Paul MLA Scott Cyr, who spoke at the Commission’s May hearing in St. Paul. Cyr urged commissioners to align the constituency boundaries with existing municipal borders, noting that it would eliminate long-standing confusion among residents about which MLA represented them.

He also highlighted the region’s “shadow population” — thousands of temporary workers who live and work locally but are not fully captured in census data. Cyr argued this undercount means the riding serves far more people than the official population reflects.

In its interim report, the Commission acknowledged the concern but stated it lacked sufficient data to quantify the impact. Still, it accepted Cyr’s broader recommendation to unite the County of St. Paul, calling it a move that better represents communities of shared interest.

If the proposal stands, the Bonnyville–Cold Lake–St. Paul constituency’s population would be 55,809 — roughly 1.6 per cent above Alberta’s provincial average.

Fort McMurray–Lac La Biche Remains Unchanged

The Fort McMurray–Lac La Biche riding would remain intact, with strong public and municipal support for preserving the two ridings in the region. The Commission noted the area’s vast geography and unique needs justify continued dual representation.

Energy and Minerals Minister Brian Jean, MLA for Fort McMurray–Lac La Biche, welcomed the decision to maintain his constituency’s current boundaries but expressed deep concern about the broader implications for northern Alberta.

Jean said eliminating one of the seven northern ridings — effectively dissolving Lesser Slave Lake — would erode rural representation. “When we talk about the economic engine of Alberta and even Canada, it’s because of what is under the feet of our northern residents,” he said, urging the Commission to use existing legal provisions that allow for greater population variance in remote regions.

Northern MLAs Push Back

Jean’s comments were echoed in a joint letter signed by nine northern MLAs, including Cyr, calling on the Commission to reconsider the proposed reduction from seven to six northern constituencies. The group argued that Alberta’s north faces unique challenges due to its large geography, sparse population, and economic importance — and deserves proportional representation.

The letter was co-signed by Athabasca–Barrhead–Westlock MLA Glenn van Djiken, Fort McMurray–Wood Buffalo MLA Tany Yao, Grand Prairie MLA Nolan Dych, Grande Prairie–Wapiti MLA Ron Wiebe, Peace River MLA Dan Williams, West Yellowhead MLA Martin Long, and Central Peace–Notley MLA Todd Loewen.

What It Means for the Lakeland

For the Lakeland, the proposed boundaries could bring long-sought consistency for voters, particularly in the County of St. Paul where past elections left residents uncertain which MLA represented their community.

If approved, the change would simplify representation, strengthen regional advocacy, and bring the Bonnyville–Cold Lake–St. Paul constituency into closer alignment with local governance and economic realities — even as northern Alberta as a whole faces a potential loss in its political voice.