MLA for Drumheller-Stettler Rick Strankman will have a new portfolio when he steps into the legislature come the new year.
The Wildrose Opposition updated its new shadow cabinet and leadership roles for its MLAs. Strankman’s portfolio has changed from Shadow Minister of Agriculture and Forestry to Shadow Minster of Property and Surface Rights. Despite this change, he still feels strongly about representing the agricultural industry, especially those in the Jenner area who are currently struggling with the tuberculosis quarantine.
“I am happy to represent them whether they are from my former Agricultural portfolio as agriculturalists anyway. Even if I didn’t have the portfolio I would be happy to represent them because of my love for the agriculture,” he said.
Looking back on a divisive year in politics, in Drumheller-Stettler, Strankman says he is disappointed in not being able to move forward Drumheller’s agenda of working on flood mitigation and mapping.
He said many in the area were motivated into action because of Bill 6, the Farm Safety Bill.
“Taking the phone calls, meeting many new people in the constituency regarding Bill 6 was very wholesome,” he said. “As a result of that, people understood that democracy does and can play a role in their lives.”
“From that, I am hoping in the next election cycle more people will be involved.”
One major concern on the horizon is the Carbon Tax. Right now the majority of power in the province is coming largely from coal and that is going to have an effect on consumers.
The base load is still going to be coming from hydrocarbons of some sort, but there is going to be extenuating costs to that,” he said.
It has been a tumultuous time in politics and as the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party looks for leadership, there are many pushing for unity between the right-leaning parties in the province. Leadership hopeful leading that charge, Jason Kenney, was through the valley last Thursday night. This was the same day that Wildrose MLA Derek Fildebrandt expressed his preference for a merger between the Wildrose and the Conservatives. Strankman was at the meetings in Drumheller and Hanna, and while some have reported Fildebrandt’s comment as a break from the position of Wildrose leader Brian Jean’s approach, Strankman doesn’t see too much difference.
“Brian Jean has talked about uniting conservatives and Jason is just saying that he too is advocating that, and how Albertans decide how to do it is key in his mind,” said Strankman.
He says that many are recognizing the animosity between the two parties is detrimental.
“There seems to be a more regressive atmosphere where people are willing to say that our fighting has caused this; ie. The NDP, and now we need to regroup and go back,” said Strankman
He wants to leave that decision to the voters.
“I support the path of the decision of the residents of Drumheller-Stettler. What I am getting is ’whatever you guys do you got to do it because we can’t stand the NDP anymore.’ That is why I attended at both sessions to get a feel for what people are saying.”
He understands if the parties are to find common ground, there are compromises that have to be made. For Strankman, one item he won't budge on is property rights.
“Definition of property rights is one of the most important. I think that the Wildrose enunciated more openly than the current PC Party has,” said Strankman. “A full wholesome discussion of property rights would be important to this rural constituency.”
