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EDMONTON – Alberta’s surging population has the provincial government planning to add more seats to the legislature.

Justice Minister Mickey Amery introduced a bill Tuesday that calls for the creation of two additional electoral districts to bring the province’s seat total to 89 ahead of the 2027 general election.

There could also be widespread boundary changes, as the bill, if passed, would remove a provision that requires riding boundaries respect municipal boundaries as a guiding principle.

When asked by reporters if removing the provision is an attempt to dilute urban ridings with rural voters, who historically favour conservative representatives, Amery said the United Conservative Party government is aiming for manoeuvrability.

“A number of rural or semi-rural communities are very much closely connected to their urban cities that they’re nearby,” Amery said.

“The idea here is to build the flexibility for the commission to identify, for example, communities of interest, communities that share common transportation routes or common themes.”

Amery said the decision to increase seats is driven by Alberta’s recent surge in population, which is now at almost five million.

Government figures show that nine of Alberta’s current 87 constituencies are overpopulated, and Amery said having two additional representatives in the legislative assembly would improve voter representation.

Five of those overpopulated districts are in Calgary, three are in Edmonton, and the last is Airdrie-Cochrane, which covers all of Cochrane — a town that has seen its population grow by over 40 per cent since 2016.

Provincial rules dictate that the population of each constituency must be within 25 per cent of the average population of all electoral districts, though some exceptions are made for a couple rural districts where meeting that target isn’t feasible.

Should the bill pass, the government would establish a five-member commission to study and recommend where the boundaries of existing constituencies should be changed to create the two new districts.

Even if the bill is defeated, Premier Danielle Smith’s government would still need to establish a commission to review the electoral districts before the next election.

The commission would be made up of two members appointed by the Opposition NDP and three, including a committee chair, appointed by the United Conservatives.

NDP justice critic Irfan Sabir said he expects the UCP to go through the boundary redesign in good faith.

“We expect that it’s a fair process and these new ridings are given in the areas where we see the most population and growth pressures, and these are not just used for any political gains,” Sabir said.

The last election in 2023 saw results unfold along geographic lines, with the NDP taking Edmonton, the UCP dominating in rural areas and the two sides effectively splitting the key battleground of Calgary.

Political science professor Lisa Young said she isn’t surprised the government is looking to expand the legislature, as not doing so ahead of the necessary district review might have meant the loss of rural districts in favour of new urban ones where the population growth is being seen.

“It gets the government out of an immediate political problem,” said Young with the University of Calgary.

“If they didn’t, they were going to have to deal with a really messy situation that would have reduced the number of rural ridings, and that would have created problems inside UCP caucus.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.

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WASHINGTON – Americans are anxiously watching the results of Tuesday’s election roll in as a chaotic presidential campaign reaches its peak in a deeply divided United States, where voters in only a handful of battleground states will choose the country’s path forward.

Many Americans remain caught between concern and excitement. Bars throughout the U.S. capital were packed with people watching the results come in.

Some windows on nearby businesses were boarded up and security fences were erected outside the White House, putting some visitors to the famous building on edge about violence on election day.

At Union Pub near Capitol Hill, election specials included the The Dirty Walz — with Mountain Dew, vodka and grenadine — and They’re Drinking The Cats — with whiskey and sour mix served with cat straws.

“Whatever happens in the election, I am confident in America,” said Randy Biard, who is from Tennessee, in Washington Tuesday afternoon.

Vice-President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump have presented starkly different visions for America’s future, but as millions of Americans cast their ballots, polling suggested the two remained in a dead heat.

Trump was holding a watch party at Mar-a-Lago in Florida while Harris was gathering with party faithful at her alma mater, Howard University in Washington.

Howard students gathered in campus gymnasium for a watch party filled with music and dancing. As early results started to come in, spirits remained high despite the uncertain outcome.

“I’m very excited, nervous, but I think what’s meant to be will be,” said 20-year-old party attendee Tyette Manna.

A shared history and 8,891-kilometre border will not shield Canada from the election’s outcome. Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to the United States, said “any election in the U.S. is important and impactful for us.”

“They are central to our economic prosperity. They are a vital security partner.”

Hillman has been travelling across America meeting with key members of the Republican and Democrat teams to prepare for any outcome. On election night, after her embassy duties are finished, she planned to watch the results with her husband and friends.

Hillman is keenly aware of the immense stakes at play for Canada.

“Whoever is sitting in the Oval Office and populating Congress is making decisions that may affect Canada, either decisions that provide us with opportunities or decisions that pose challenges for us,” Hillman said. “The job is to be ready for both.”

Both candidates have proposed protectionist policies, but experts warn if the Republican leader prevails the relationship between the neighbours could be much more difficult.

“Trump and some of the key people around him, including (former trade representative) Robert Lighthizer, really want to stick it to Canada,” said Fen Hampson, a professor of international affairs at Carleton University in Ottawa.

Trump’s first administration demonstrated how vulnerable Canada is to America’s whims when the former president scrapped the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Negotiating its successor, the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, was a key test for Ottawa after Trump’s victory. Whoever takes over the White House this time will be in charge during the agreement’s review in 2026.

A cause for concern in Canada and around the world is Trump’s proposed 10 per cent across-the-board tariff. A Canadian Chamber of Commerce report suggests those tariffs would shrink the Canadian economy, resulting in around $30 billion per year in economic costs.

American economists warned Trump’s plan could cause inflation, and possibly a recession, which would almost certainly have ripple effects in Canada. More than 77 per cent of Canadian exports go to the U.S and trade comprises 60 per cent of Canada’s gross domestic product.

“When the American economy is growing, it’s generally good for us,” Hampson said. “If they take a deep dive under Trump … that will have a knock-on effect on us, on top of tariffs.”

The election outcome could also redefine America’s role in the world. Trump is critical of giving aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia, has attacked the United Nations and repeatedly claimed he would not defend NATO members that don’t meet defence spending targets — something Canada is not doing, and won’t do for years.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to meet the target of spending the equivalent of two per cent of GDP on defence by 2032.

Trump’s first tenure also saw the Republican leader withdraw from the Paris Agreement, an international treaty to cut greenhouse gases.

Hampson said the Republicans’ push against international institutions and treaties will have “a profound impact” on Canada, but also key allies and the world order itself.

If Harris wins, it’s widely expected that there will be more normal relations based on established patterns and rules, but it does not necessarily mean smooth sailing for Canada.

It’s expected the vice-president would follow the path laid by President Joe Biden on foreign policy and trade with Canada.

Biden signed an executive order to revoke the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, which would have transferred oil from Alberta to Nebraska. The administration’s Buy America procurement rules also caused concern in Canada.

Laura Dawson, an expert on Canada-U.S. relations and the executive director of the Future Borders Coalition, said she expects a Harris administration would continue nationalist and protectionist policies.

Harris has spoken on the campaign trail about the fact that she voted against the trilateral trade agreement and said she will return manufacturing jobs to the U.S.

It’s a great slogan and bumper sticker, Dawson said, “but it’s terrible if you are Canada.”

Dawson warned Trudeau’s team during a cabinet retreat in August that no matter who is the next president, Canada will have to work harder to maintain existing benefits of integrated trade and travel.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.

OTTAWA – MPs, diplomats and political staff gathered around the parliamentary precinct to anxiously take in preliminary results of a U.S. presidential election that they all agreed would have an enormous impact on Canada and the world.

“There’s a lot of nervous energy in the room tonight,” said Gary Keller, who was chief of staff to John Baird, the former Conservative foreign minister.

“This one has so much potential impact on our economy, our society.”

U.S. voters cast their ballots Tuesday in a race between starkly different visions for their country’s future, with either former president Donald Trump or Vice-President Kamala Harris. The two have proposed policies that could disrupt commerce with Ottawa’s closest trading partner, and have deep repercussions for Canada’s defence.

As results streamed in on large screens, Keller said he was anxious about the “knife-edge” election.

“Canadian businesses just have to be prepared for some challenges over the next four years, no matter who wins,” said Keller, a vice-president with government relations firm StrategyCorp.

He noted that Trump and Harris have both campaigned on protectionist policies, which could pose a significant threat to Canada’s economy.

Trump has pledged to bring in a 10 per cent across-the-board tariff — something the Canadian Chamber of Commerce believes could cost the Canadian economy around $30 billion per year.

In 2020, Harris was one of just 10 senators who voted against the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement. She recently said the CUSMA deal doesn’t adequately protect American jobs.

Before result-watching parties kicked off in the bars surrounding Parliament Hill, the federal Liberals told reporters they’ve spent months laying the groundwork for Ottawa to be in a better position to manage trade negotiations with the next American president than during Trump’s first term.

At that point, the Liberals undertook a “Team Canada” approach of having premiers, mayors, unions and business leaders engage with their American counterparts, as Trump called for an end to the NAFTA trade deal.

The push resulted in Canada keeping much of its key access under CUSMA. Whoever takes over the White House will oversee the scheduled review of that deal in 2026.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said the government will use its Team Canada approach to defend Canadian interests, and that she has also been in touch with other foreign ministers and world leaders about how to work with the next president.

“We have the strongest and, I think, most important relationship as a country with the U.S.,” Joly said.

Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the goal over the last several months has been to define Canada as a critical and strategic partner, and not just a friendly neighbour to the north.

“The focus of our friends in the United States is national security. National security and economic security are one. I think there is a better understanding today that the strategic relationship that we have is serving North America’s national security,” Champagne said.

Yet the head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada, Rick Tachuk, said various irritants in the bilateral relationship could cause Washington to restrict trade, such as energy, defence and digital-services regulation.

“There’s a whole host of issues that are critical, that we need to resolve in part before we get to the CUSMA review in 2026,” he said. adding that the composition of the House of Representatives will also greatly shape American economic policies toward Canada.

Iceland’s ambassador to Canada, Hlynur Gudjonsson, said his country was impressed at Ottawa’s ability to keep strong trade ties during Trump’s first term.

While he expected a good relationship with Trump or Harris, he said his country wonders how a Trump presidency will approach the NATO military alliance.

Trump has been highly critical of NATO allies — particularly those, like Canada, that are not meeting the agreed-upon spending target — accusing them of failing to pull their weight and calling the alliance “obsolete.”

Canada does not plan to reach the target of spending two per cent of GDP on defence until at least 2032.

Harris has said her administration would uphold mutual defence pacts and continue steadfast support for Ukraine.

Defence Minister Bill Blair said he believes either administration will recognize the work Canada is doing to boost defence spending.

“It takes time to build new battleships, it takes time to build the new submarines we’re going to require, and deliver the airplanes we need,” Blair said.

Gudjonsson said concerns about NATO likely added to a European tendency to be more in line with Democrats than Republicans.

“Kamala Harris would be very happy if the Icelanders were voting for her,” he said. “That’s the case in Europe I think in general.”

A handful of European diplomats declined to comment on the race, peering anxiously at vote tallies between swigs of beer and cocktails.

Liberal MP Jean Yip said she was nervous about the results.

“I hope for the best; we keep our fingers crossed that it will be all right,” the Toronto MP said.

“We just want the best president possible, for Americans and for Canadians,” she said, without specifying who that would be.

Earlier, Joly noted that her government worked with three different U.S. administrations over the last decade, and built relationships with both Republicans and Democrats.

Yet it’s not a given that a Justin Trudeau-led government will represent Canada in trade talks. There is a possibility that a precarious Parliament could trigger a snap election before the negotiations start in earnest.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said on social media Tuesday a Conservative government would “drive a hard bargain” with Washington on softwood lumber and buy-American policies.

In question period, Poilievre attacked the Liberals for failing to get a deal with the U.S. to end softwood lumber tariffs, and accused the government of capitulating to the Americans during the last round of trade negotiations.

Trudeau responded in French that “it was the Conservatives, including Stephen Harper, who were encouraging us to back down and not offend the Americans” during the CUSMA negotiations.

“On the contrary, we stood up for ourselves we protected supply management, protected steel and aluminum workers, we protected jobs right across this country,” the prime minister said.

David Cohen, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, said in an interview that he sees the trade relationship continuing with little disruption no matter who wins the election.

“I’ve not heard any president in my lifetime, and I’ve certainly not heard either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris say, we want to blow up this $3.4-billion-a-day trade relationship that exists between the United States and Canada,” Cohen said.

“So, the Team Canada approach that Canada’s been using — I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again — is a powerful outreach mechanism which is useful to doing outreach and communication with a variety of stakeholders and constituents who all have a role to play in nurturing and growing the U.S.-Canada relationship, independent of the presidential election.”

Cohen added that Canada is the biggest trading partner for 36 states and he doubts any administration would want to jeopardize the millions of jobs tied to that cross-border trade.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.

— With files from Kelly Geraldine Malone