ATHABASCA/BARRHEAD/WESTLOCK - Being an Alberta MLA is challenging, but representing a rural constituency makes it even more difficult.
That is what Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock MLA Glenn van Dijken said to a room full of United Conservative Party (UCP) supporters during an April 4 Barrhead fundraiser at the Seniors' Drop-in Centre.
First elected in 2015 as part of the Wildrose Party in what was then the Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock constituency, van Dijken presently serves on the Economy and Affordability Cabinet Policy Committee and is the Parliamentary Secretary for Agrifood Development.
In 2019, the Electoral Boundaries Commission increased an already expansive riding to over 40,000 square kilometres.
"It is very much an east-west constituency and encompasses parts of nine counties, seven towns, three villages, eight summer villages, seven school divisions and all the industry, agriculture, energy, forestry," he said, adding that he doesn't believe many people, including his fellow MLAs in urban ridings understand the challenges faced by those representing rural ridings. "There are more MLAs in [each of the cities of Calgary and Edmonton] than they have councillors."
van Dijken added that much of rural MLAs' work involves working with municipal elected officials and school division trustees on behalf of their constituents.
He said that while he did not want to throw shade on his urban colleagues, he doubted that many had met with their school division trustees.
Accomplishments
van Dijken said when he meets with residents from across the riding, they often ask him about what he has accomplished for the riding.
He added that, as a rural MLA, much of his job is focused on advocating for improvements to transportation infrastructure.
"We can look at Highway 661 near Fort Assiniboine, Highway 33 near Fort Assiniboine, Highway 55 near Athabasca, the resurfacing. Right now, one of the big projects is the upgrade, planning, and design of Highway 28 from Edmonton to Bonnyville. A large section runs through our constituency on the east side," van Dijken said.
He noted that the project wouldn't have been possible if it hadn't been for the work of two other rural MLAs, Scott Cyr, Bonnyville-Cold Lake and Dale Nally, Morinville-St. Albert, whose ridings the highway also goes through.
"The three of us sat down with the transportation minister [and told him] when the industry started to get active again, the amount of heavy truck traffic on that road increased dramatically and in many areas, it wasn't in the condition to be safe," van Dijken. "So [Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister Devin Dreeshen] committed to the planning, development, and design of upgrading that highway, adding a bunch of passing and turning lanes, and working on the safety of that highway."
van Dijken also pointed out the replacement bridge on Highway 813 near Athabasca as another win.
"It was a long time in the works, but you have to keep pushing forward, highlighting the need," he said.
One of the infrastructure projects van Dijken is working on is a replacement bridge near Fort Assiniboine over the Athabasca River on Highway 33.
On Aug. 13, about three-and-a-half or four feet wide and six feet long, the middle of the driving lane about a third way on the west end of the 70-year-old bridge collapsed into the river.
"The local people are actually nervous going across it. You think you have a problem when you have a pothole on the highway; it's a big problem when you have a pothole on a bridge," he said.
The other area where van Dijken said he was able to help move along was school infrastructure.
One of the things he said he is most proud of is that the Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock has three major school upgrade projects on the go: replacement schools in Mallaig in St. Paul County and Waskatenau and the school modernization project slated to start this spring or summer in Barrhead.
van Dijken also noted that the province completed a replacement school project in Smoky Lake.
Currently, van Dijken is advocating for a new school construction project near Carseland on the Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement.
"Those are the things we do every day, along with trying to help constituents with their day-to-day issues that they are trying to bring forward, whether it is difficulty in receiving seniors' benefits or healthcare. Just everyday concerns that residents need someone to advocate for them to get the services they rightly deserve," he said, adding it is also essential to be realistic in his asks as there is no shortage of potential projects.
"Every other MLA has just as long of a list that they are asking for their constituency," van Dijken said.
Premier's leadership inspiring, says MLA
van Dijken said the premier's leadership was an inspiration for himself and the rest of the caucus.
"She comes at things looking to find common sense solutions and is willing to take input from all. Her approach is that we are very much a team," he said. "It takes a very special person to put up with the negativity that gets thrown her way and still come out the other end of it very much balanced.
van Dijken also said he supports Smith's advocacy efforts south of the border, including appearing with conservative media personality Ben Shapiro at a fundraiser for PragerU.
"It is just a one-on-one conversation, and she believes that we are getting to the point and time where the population, especially the younger people, recognize that we have to talk about some of this stuff," he said.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
