Alberta tables bill to bump legislature seat count to 91 for boundaries redraw

Alberta is formally moving to boost its number of legislature seats.

Premier Danielle Smith’s government has introduced legislation to increase the number of seats to 91 from the current 87.

The change was recommended by the chair of a panel tasked with redrawing the election map to match Alberta’s rising population ahead of next year’s provincial election.

That panel had been directed to create no more than two new seats, but Smith says she accepts a recommendation from the chair to go to 91 to ensure rural voters are properly represented.

The change is part of a decision made by Smith’s United Conservative Party government to revisit the panel’s redrawn map.

The Opposition NDP argues the premier is revisiting the ridings to redraw them to gain electoral advantage – a charge Smith denies.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 23, 2026.

Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press