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Joel van der Veen/Independent reporter
Drumheller-Stettler MLA Rick Strankman hosted an open house at the Canalta hotel in Stettler on Friday, Jan. 16. He is seen here at left talking with Julie Hebbes and Stan Eichhorn.
MLA welcomes public to Stettler open house
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Joel van der Veen INDEPENDENT REPORTER Nearly a month after a mass defection to the Progressive Conservatives left Alberta’s official opposition with just five MLAs, Rick Strankman said the Wildrose Party is still rebounding from the blow. The Wildrose MLA for Drumheller-Stettler described the atmosphere in the party caucus as somewhat like “recovering from shell shock.” Still, Strankman said he and his colleagues are “determined to continue to go forward on the values that we got elected on” and “maintain the course in a difficult time.”
Strankman welcomed a steady stream of constituents and Wildrose party faithful to a sevenhour open house at Stettler’s Canalta Hotel, on Friday, Jan. 16. While the event attracted modest numbers, Strankman said he had the opportunity to speak oneon-one with residents on constituency issues. “I was kind of hoping that there would be more people,” he said, adding, “We’re having good and open discussion.” The conversation frequently turned to the nine Wildrose Party MLAs — including party leader Danielle Smith — who crossed the floor in the Alberta legislature on Dec. 17, giving the gov-
erning PCs a strengthened majority of 72 seats. The crossover left the Wildrose Party with five MLAs. Calgary-Fish Creek MLA Heather Forsyth was appointed interim leader five days later. The party will continue to serve as the province’s official opposition, despite its reduction in numbers. The Alberta Liberal Party also holds five seats, while the NDP holds four and one MLA serves as an independent. Strankman said he still receives regular emails about what he referred to as the “recent political departures.” He added that the party’s executive will soon announce details on the process
to select a new permanent leader, but he won’t be seeking the position. “From my activist role, I’ve learned that you can do lots — in capital letters — not necessarily from a leadership role,” he said, explaining that one can serve in an advisory capacity, or lead by example. He said he has felt buoyed by the support of constituents and others who have affirmed his decision to remain with the opposition, citing as an example an email from a resident of Olds — whose MLA, Bruce Rowe, was among the nine to join the PCs. continued on page 7
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