It has been a busy year for Strankman as a member of the opposition.
    “As opposition some people say, you are not out here handing out cheques so how do you represent your people?“ said Stranmkan, “…there are three ways the opposition works, to the first being to expose, the second being to oppose and the third being to propose.”
    While Edmonton seems miles away to some constituents, Strankman says some of the opposition’s efforts have hit close to home, including the lobby to have seniors in care to have access to fresh meals and more than one bath a week.
    He said these practices were happening on lodging in the Stettler area.
    He adds the efforts to reinstate free parking for veterans affects residents when they travel to hospitals in larger centres.
    Going forward into the next three years, he hopes to see more openness in government and accountability.
     While he entered politics without the design to make it a career, he is committed to the long term.
    “I am primarily a two term guy. I have had lots of thoughts because obviously the learning curve is straight up, but I am pretty well committed to stay for two terms,” he said addressing some rumours that he may not run again.
    He does say however, it has been a challenging year.
    “It has been a onerous task and I think that is where some of the frustration that mounted in the demise of our predecessor was the lack of being at functions, being seen, and covering the constituency,” he said. “I am finding it challenging. There is no doubt it is a large constituency.”
    “They took a chance on the representation of Rick Strankman and I sure as heck don’t’ want to let them down.”

    The third person charged in a drug raid last October was sentenced in provincial court last Friday.
    Peter Shokal appeared in provincial court in Drumheller for trial on May 10. He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine.
    His charge dates back to October 25 of last year, when Calgary’s combined force Special Enforcement Unit worked with the Drumheller RCMP and executed search warrants at two Drumheller residences. Three people were charged including Shokal. 
    Three grams of cocaine, 47 grams of marijuana and 17 grams of psilocybin (mushrooms) were seized as well as cash and drug trafficking paraphernalia.
    Since that time, a charge against a 31-year-old Manitoba man, of possession of the proceeds of crime was withdrawn in December, and his cash that was seized at the arrest was returned. Prosecutors were satisfied the source of the funds was not the result of crime.
    In February, Christopher Shapka of Drumheller pleaded guilty to two simple possession charges of marijuana and psilocybin (mushrooms). He was fined $3,450.
    Last Friday the court heard Shokal plead guilty to possession of the three grams of cocaine. He also had possession of $495 in cash and two cell phones. He was on parole from the Drumheller Institution at the time of the arrest.
    Crown prosecutor Colin Kloot supported the guilty plea, noting a Charter Notice had been filed on behalf of Shokal.
    Shokal was fined $1,000 plus a victims’ fine surcharge of 15 per cent. The cash seized in the raid was ordered back to be used to help satisfy the fine. An iPhone was also returned to Shokal.