What does it mean to govern as a conservative? It is a question Alberta conservatives should be asking as the debate over electoral boundaries unfolds.
In a November 2 article on his Decoding Politics Substack, University of Alberta political scientist Jared Wesley challenges Alberta conservatives to consider where they draw the line on gerrymandering. His point is simple: winning elections should never take priority over the integrity of the democratic process.
Alberta's current boundaries debate makes that question particularly relevant. 
The UCP government rejected the majority recommendations of Alberta's Electoral Boundaries Commission and established a different process, resulting in a new advisory panel and a report tabled November 2. The process and proposed boundaries have raised questions about political influence, independence and fair representation. The government disputes allegations that it is seeking electoral advantage through the changes.
There is a legitimate debate to be had about how Alberta's constituencies should be drawn. Population growth, rural representation, geography and communities of interest all matter. But so does the process. Voters need confidence that electoral boundaries are established fairly, not shaped to benefit the party in power.
This is where principles matter.
Conservatism has traditionally stood for responsible government, respect for institutions, accountability and restraint in the use of political power. Those principles cannot be applied selectively. They matter just as much when a government has the numbers to do what it wants as when it faces opposition.
The UCP's approach raises an important question: Is the government exercising its authority in the interests of Albertans, or using that authority in ways that risk undermining public confidence in the democratic process?
For the Progressive Tory Party, the answer begins with a simple belief: the rules of democracy should serve voters, not the political interests of those in power.
That is the kind of government conservatives should expect — and work to deliver.
As Wesley's article reminds us, principles are easiest to defend when they work in our favour. Their real test comes when they don't.