A look back: Fildebrandt on 2015

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

Last year’s out-of-the-blue manoeuvre – when nine Wildrose party members crossed the floor to the Progressive Conservatives and irrefutably cost the party its hold in Alberta – fuelled a number of circumstances in 2015 that consequently transformed MLA Derek Fildebrandt’s life.
The former Canadian Taxpayers Federation Alberta director channelled his feelings of anger and betrayal into a vigorous election campaign while restoring trust and increasing memberships within the party.
As a result, the 30-year-old politician won 52.6 per cent of the vote to become Strathmore-Brooks’ new Member of the Legislative Assembly during the provincial election on May 5 – launching Fildebrandt into what he referred to as a tumultuous yet refreshing year and signifying one of his most memorable moments of 2015.
“It’s been a pretty wild year that began with the floor crossing event of last year, that really sort of turned my world upside down and forced me to do something about it and set in motion a path that would lead me to become the MLA of Strathmore Brooks,” Fildebrandt said. “Election night was absolutely shocking. That said, I don’t think I fully understood the magnitude of what had happened on election night. For me I was just so happy that we had finally changed a government that even if a new government was diametrically opposed to what I stand for, they would at least govern democratically and accountably.
“I think I was overly optimistic about that with the new government as they seem to have fallen into many of the worst habits of the old government very quickly.”
With the fall of a 44-year-old Progressive Conservative reign and the rise of the New Democratic Party with a majority, the Wildrose Party became the official opposition. Since then, Fildebrandt remained occupied. From ambitious plans to become the MLA with the most town-hall meetings, to advocating for the Strathmore Hospital in the legislature, to debating the budget, to hosting the largest town-hall meeting against Bill 6 in Bassano, Fildebrandt experienced a whirlwind year.
When not in session at the Legislature, which required early mornings from 5 a.m. until well after midnight, the Strathmore-Brooks MLA spent his time in the riding, meeting with constituents and local stakeholders, touring the province, and rebuilding the Wildrose Party.
“I’ve had an enjoyable, however frustrating, time debating taxes, spending, and budget in the legislature that sometimes feels like I’m banging my head against the wall,” he said. “It’s very tiring and it takes a toll on family, that perhaps I didn’t fully appreciate before I ran. Because I had been around politics and been engaged in it on the margins for quite some time, I think I had a better appreciation than many, but it did turn out to be more difficult on your health and your family than I think I first imagined it to be.
“I don’t have any regrets about doing it. It’s an absolute honour to serve the people of Strathmore-Brooks, and to fight for things I truly believe in.”
Looking forward, Fildebrandt said the emphasis remains not only on holding the government accountable over the next three years, but focusing on what is required to replace the government at the appropriate time. While he said the next steps would include inviting all fiscal conservatives to form a coalition across Alberta to replace the NDP in 2019, he assured it would not result in the loss of the party’s principles.