Alberta got their first glimpse at what the Alberta Legislature may look like for the next four years and it appeared to be pretty colourful.
While the legislature sat for a short time in the spring, this fall the gloves were off in Edmonton as the ruling Tories passed 10 pieces of legislation.
“In the spring, Albertans made a strong statement on the issues that matter to them and what their government should focus on. Albertans expect us to focus on their priorities and to build and invest in Alberta’s future. I am proud to say that we have done just that,” said Premier Redford in a press release.
It wasn’t without a fight however. According to a press release from the Official Opposition, the Wildrose Party, they dominated 61 per cent of the debate and of the more than 100 amendments introduced by opposition parties, half were from the Wildrose Party.
Drumheller –Stettler MLA Rick Strankman himself spoke for about 44 minutes during the 93 hours of sitting.
“The government would stand and vote down our amendments,” said Strankman. “We are trying to bring forward what we believe to be good pieces of legislation… we are trying to be as serious as we can with our deliberations and input.”
For Strankman the most important bills in his mind were the Responsible Energy Development Act, the Whistleblower Act and the Election Accountability Act.
“We are put there in the public trust, that is our job; to put those pieces of legislation in for the public trust,” he said.
While the opposition were only successful on two amendments, for the first time in many years the ruling party in Alberta was facing a pointed opposition, and their work dominated many of the headlines.
“We are holding their feet to the fire, like in the Election Accountability Act, we wanted to make it so donations were smaller,” he said. "We are trying to do the best we can.”
Many media reports of the fall sitting were of a raucous atmosphere punctuated by heated debates that at times may have crossed into the personal.
Strankman said there was a certain “level of frustration.”
“The Premier doesn’t extend her stay in the chamber for any great length. She does come in irregularly in some late hours for Committee of the Whole and such but not for any extended period. We are hoping to hold the government to account for frugality of the dollars that are spent,” he said.
Now that the legislature has recessed Strankman is back in his riding. He told The Mail he is not sure when he will be in the Drumheller area, although he may be here for some Christmas functions.