Coun. Bill Cocks met with members of the Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission last Friday online seeking to remove Brooks from the current Brooks-Medicine Hat provincial riding.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
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Following a presentation to the Alberta Electoral Boundary Commission last Friday, city councillors say the commission needs to consider a variety of factors making any decision to change Medicine Hat to a standalone urban electoral riding.
City officials are seeking to change the city’s current electoral boundaries, especially its Brooks-Medicine Hat electoral district, into a Medicine Hat specific boundary, while keeping the current Cypress-Medicine Hat riding the same for the next provincial election in 2027.
Coun. Bill Cocks, who delivered the presentation to members of the commission, says the AEBC was receptive to the city’s request, however it cited several competing interests that would have to be taken into consideration if Brooks is moved into a different riding.
“If you move Brooks, for instance, out of Brooks-Medicine Hat, then who gets included with Brooks? Does that impact Drumheller, what does that do to Red Deer? We have to balance out the numbers and the geographic areas,” said Cocks.
Medicine Hat is not the only jurisdiction seeking to change its electoral boundaries.
Since the first round of written submissions were accepted last April, the Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission received 1,147 submissions across the province from private citizens, current and past elected officials, school boards and a variety of associations.
The commission is holding a series of public meetings this month to hear recommendations contained in its January 2026 Interim Report.
The body is tasked with examining Alberta’s riding boundaries and can suggest altering boundaries to equalize population, or in light of other factors.
