For the first time in a generation, Morinville residents will be represented at the Alberta legislature by an Opposition MLA.
Glenn van Dijken beat out PC candidate Maureen Kubinec and was the sole Wildrose MLA elected in St. Albert-area ridings, but said he doesn’t think that will affect his ability to get the job done.
“Any member that’s a sitting member of the governing party, any member who’s not in cabinet, has the same issues as I do,” he said. “They have to go the minister and get the minister aware of what the issues are and what needs to be done.”
In the short time since the May 5 election that swept the NDP to power and established the Wildrose as the official Opposition, van Dijken said he’s been busy getting up to speed and sorting out administrative issues like where his constituency office or offices will be.
He said he has also been in contact with many residents, local elected officials and organizations about what’s needed in the constituency, and intends to rely heavily on local elected officials to keep him in the loop about what specific issues they would like to see addressed.
“It’s going to be all about recognizing I’m a representative in the provincial legislature on behalf of those leaders in their communities, and on behalf of the individual citizens,” he said.
While he’s not concerned that an NDP majority will make it difficult to, van Dijken said he was worried about what the ideological differences between the governing NDP and the Opposition Wildrose might mean on the larger scale.
“I don’t believe in their philosophy of big government and higher taxes, and so on,” he said. “Ideologically I believe that there’s going to be times where we’ll need to have discussion as to what’s in the best interests of Alberta as a whole.”
Despite those concerns, he said he holds out how that the practical side of the MLAs in government will weigh out over the ideological side, and that all parties will be able to find common ground about moving the province forward into the future.
When he’s not worrying about the political issues facing the constituency and the province, van Dijken said he would continue to spend as much time as possible with his family, which includes his wife Barb, five adult children and four grandchildren.
“Family first,” he said. ““We just come together with our family and enjoy our kids and grandkids. That’s a big part of our life.”
Van Dijken said despite what ideological differences may exist within the riding, where thousands voted for NDP candidate Tristan Turner, he intends to represent everyone to the best of his ability.
“I need them to reach out to me. I’m not going to be aware of all the needs in the constituency unless people make me aware of them,” he said. “People shouldn’t hesitate to get in contact.”
He can be contacted at [email protected].
