The Decibel The Alberta government is accused of gerrymandering
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Apr 24, 2026 
Matthew Scace, a Calgary-based Globe and Mail reporter who covers Alberta politics, breaks down the uproar over new electoral maps. He outlines how commissions redraw districts, the clash between competing reports, the push to change seat counts, and the legal and political fallout now unfolding.
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Why Electoral Maps Decide Who Governs
- Electoral boundaries determine who forms government because each riding equals one seat in the legislature.
- Matthew Scace explains Alberta has 87 seats and the math of ridings directly shapes which party wins majorities.
Commission Must Follow Government Set Seat Count
- Alberta's Electoral Boundaries Commission is given a fixed number of seats to work with rather than freedom to choose seat count.
- Matthew Scace notes Alberta set the seats at 89 for this commission, forcing maps to fit that constraint.
Two Conflicting Maps Upend A Routine Process
- The 2024 commission produced two competing reports: a majority map and a minority map from the two UCP-selected commissioners.
- The majority moved two seats from rural Alberta into Edmonton and Calgary to reflect urban growth.