Alberta’s long-awaited spring appears to finally have arrived and like many of you, not a moment too soon for me. Spring means different things to all of us; in the riding I call home, it means the awakening of the agriculture sector and the influx of tourists visiting all of the attractions our constituency has to offer.
The renewal of the spring season is not limited to tourism or agriculture coming to life; it’s also a chance for me to have direct contact with the constituents I proudly represent in the Alberta legislature.
Lost in the hustle and bustle of one of the most action-packed and controversial Legislative sessions in recent memory, was the 2nd anniversary of the 2012 election. In those rewarding two years since taking office, the one thing I value most are the personal exchanges with the people of the riding.
One of these rewarding experiences took place recently in Drumheller at the home of a young man that proudly represented Drumheller Stettler as the “MLA for a Day” program, held annually at the Legislature. It was obvious from the moment David arrived in my Legislature office, that this was a very special young man. Meeting and getting to know his parents, Sandra and David Sr., gave an insight into why David is such a remarkable young man.
The intimate affair was attended by a small group of David’s friends and family who created an atmosphere of acceptance and open lively discussion. These are the types of interactions that have the greatest value to anyone that truly wants to represent the wishes of their constituents properly. These one-on-one interactions best allow us to gain that perspective that helps us best understand the views of those we are supposed to represent.
In the two years since being elected, I’ve learned that directly talking to the constituents is the most effective thing any MLA can do. Albertans have steadily been losing confidence in the government which seems to all stem from their lack of ability to listen, or more importantly comprehend what the taxpayers are saying.
One thing that’s been the Achilles Heel of this Alberta government is their inability to understand that hearing is of little consequence if there is a failure to comprehend. The government of Alberta has time and again trampled and fumbled their way through negotiations and the creation of new legislation, which has resulted in the premature resignations of three successive Premiers within a mere seven years. The recently concluded spring session that lasted only seven weeks, once again illustrated a lack of solid comprehension of what Albertans want from their government.
The best consultants we have in the Legislature are the people we serve, something all MLAs would do well to remember. I would like to personally thank David, Drumheller Stettler’s 2014 MLA for a day, his family, and their friends, for their kindness and contributions to helping me to better serve the constituents of Drumheller Stettler.
Rick Strankman MLA, Drumheller Stettler
Email: drumheller.stettler@assembly.ab.ca
Twitter: @RickStrankman
Website: www.RickStrankman.ca
FROM THE LEGISLATURE