Fildebrandt looks forward to 2019

By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor

At this time last year, Strathmore-Brooks MLA Derek Fildebrandt contemplated serving out his term and leaving politics for good.
Then, 2018 – which he called his busiest and most exciting year yet – prompted the creation of the right-wing Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta (FCP) and has Fildebrandt full steam ahead for next year’s election with a bold statement about his vision for Alberta’s future.
“Entering 2018, I’d been leaning strongly toward just finishing out my term and leaving politics to the career politicians. That changed in the early spring when the Tories folded like a cheap tent (and) when the NDP brought in Bill 9. But the big breaking point was when it became clear that the Trans Mountain pipeline was just not getting built by either sucking up to Ottawa like the NDP does, or merely complaining to Ottawa as the Tories do. There was really no party willing to put its cards on the table and fight for a place of equality and justice of Alberta,” said Fildebrandt.
“Alberta’s next government needs to be willing to put up or shut up. Alberta’s next government needs to be willing to play hardball. Alberta is treated as a colony, is milked for its resources and money, and is impaired to even generating that review that we sent. Alberta is given no thank you for it and is instead insulted and condescended to. The FCP is going to make front-and-centre, as the most important issue facing Alberta, our place in confederation.”
Fildebrandt publicly proposed a deadline of one year of Alberta’s next government from the time of the next election to negotiate a new constitutional relationship with Ottawa on equal treatment of Alberta in confederation. Failing that, Fildebrandt stated he wants Albertans to have a direct say on whether they are willing to accept the status quo or call for independence.
The announcement came after a year of challenges and small victories. Besides focusing his energy on increasing memberships, recruiting candidates and building constituency associations for the FCP, the Strathmore-Brooks representative dedicated his time supporting local health and senior care providers.
While Fildebrandt said more needs to be done for health care workers, he’s pleased with the progress so far and the efforts in working together across party lines.
“Needs and priorities of the community wax and wane over time … the government itself has gone into election mode and we’re just not a priority for the NDP, to put it lightly. But I continue to keep constructive relationships open with key NDP ministers on health and infrastructure and transportation, which has resulted in a few small wins for infrastructure and health care in the riding. But there’s still a lot more to do,” Fildebrandt said.
“While it’s never going to be perfect, I’ve worked routinely with our seniors care facilities in Strathmore. For the most part, problems with the level of care that my office has observed when I was first elected are significantly better. The numbers of complaints coming in have massively dropped off. So while we cannot declare mission accomplished on seniors care in Strathmore, I’m quite happy with a lot of the improvements that have been made.”
Fildebrandt also stated the expansion of the Strathmore Hospital emergency room to be among one of the biggest victories this year.
In regards to Wheatland County, Fildebrandt spent the year advocating for its residents in their struggle against the Green for Life composting facility. For years Wheatland County residents have been concerned about their health, property values and water tables regarding a foul-smelling odour, and a large amount of garbage and dust coming from the Bio-Can GFL composting facility.
“The Green for Life composting facility has continued to be a smouldering mess and I’ve made every attempt as an MLA to deal with Green for Life diplomatically and privately where possible to come to a solution where everyone can win,” he said. “I’ve given up all hope of any diplomatic solution with Green for Life because they’ve simply shut the door. This is a huge outstanding local issue for me that has not yet been resolved.
“The progress we’ve made is first determining that there is no compromise … two, the county is much more willing to take action than was the case previously. It’s been my commitment to all of the affected residents of Wheatland County that I’m a voice in the legislature that cannot be bought by the lobbyists, that cannot be bullied by their lawyers and that I will not rest until we have gotten justice for them.”
As 2018 comes to a close, Fildebrandt said he will continue to lobby on behalf of current and future issues facing Strathmore and Wheatland County and is looking forward to an election in 2019.