Smith ready to defend Alberta's new electoral map in court

Premier Danielle Smith says Alberta will assemble a legal team if the Opposition NDP follows through on a constitutional challenge to proposed new electoral boundaries. An advisory panel's report, released Monday, would stretch some Calgary ridings beyond city limits and give Lethbridge one urban seat plus three hybrid urban-rural districts reaching up to 140 kilometres away. NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi called the report illegal and unconstitutional, while two panel members dissented. Smith said she hopes the issue can be settled through debate in the legislature, arguing hybrid ridings work well elsewhere. The next provincial election is scheduled for October 2027.