The Week in Alberta

March 23-27, 2026

Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission stirs claims of “obvious gerrymandering”

By Alberta Views
March 23, 2026

Tuesday, March 24: The Tyee reports that work on one of three provincially funded addiction recovery centres has stopped due to “a legal dispute between a contractor and Sam Mraiche.” Mraiche is an Edmonton businessman alleged to be at the centre of an ongoing probe into conflicts of interest and corruption regarding procurement at Alberta Health Services.

Read more: What’s Wrong with Rehab?

Wednesday, March 25: The Standing Committee of Legislative Offices recommends Phillip Peters to serve as Alberta’s 12th auditor general. If confirmed, Peters will replace Doug Wylie. Wylie had offered to stay on as AG to finish his investigation into AHS contracts for private surgical clinics, Turkish ibuprofen and personal protective equipment.

Read more: The Hidden Connections in the Skybox Photo

Thursday, March 26: The independent Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission submits its final report to the legislature, recommending new constituency boundaries and increasing the number of constituencies from 87 to 89. Unusually, a majority of the commission (three appointees) and a minority (two) submitted very different maps, with the former warning that the latter’s maps—which feature “highly unevenly distributed” voter populations—violate principles of fairness “and likely violate the Charter.” The UCP said it’s reviewing the AEBC report. NDP leader Naheed Nenshi called the minority’s proposed maps “obvious gerrymandering.”

Read more: The Mapmakers

Friday, March 27: An op-ed published in the Western Standard and written by Red Deer-South MLA Jason Stephan (UCP) encourages Albertans to sign the petition calling for a referendum on separation.

Read more: On the Trail of Alberta Separatists

March 27: An investigation by Elections Alberta finds that Service Alberta minister Dale Nally violated an election law when he accessed an electors list “for a purpose not authorized by the Election Act.” Nally had claimed the constituent behind an effort to recall him didn’t vote in the last election; to confirm this would have required accessing the confidential list. Nally won’t be penalized.

Read more: The Big Bet

The Week in Alberta is updated weekdays by 4:30pm MT.

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