van Dijken visits Barrhead Town council

Hi my name is Glenn and I am your member in the Alberta legislature.

While it wasn't quite that informal when, Glenn van Dijken, MLA for Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock, visited Barrhead town council during their regular meeting on Aug. 11.

For the last few weeks van Dijken has been on the road introducing himself to municipal councils in his riding in his continuing effort to learn what the most pressing issues are to local governments. On Tuesday, Aug. 4, he visited Barrhead county council.

“Essentially I am just wanted to introduce myself and talk a little bit about my role and what I can do for the Town of Barrhead,” he said.

van Dijken said he sees his role as MLA divided into two distinct parts.

The first one is to be a trustee for all Alberta and to act for the benefit of all its residents.

“To be a steward of the province and all its resources and to hold the government accountable in my capacity as a member of the opposition,” he said.

His other role is to act as a delegate or a voice to all the constituents in provincial matters.

“To help work with municipalities and residents to make sure whatever is available to them, through the province and make sure we get what we are due as a contingency,” van Dijken said, adding it is a role he takes seriously.

He then asked council to come give him a list of priorities that he could take to the legislature so that he could advocate on the town's behalf.

On a side note, van Dijken said he was pleased to see Rita Lyster, representing Pool Pay it Forward, make a presentation to council.

“I think this is a very positive sign. In order to move forward in a healthy manner, with issues such as this one that is contentious, it has to be something the community can rally around and be engaged and focused on,” van Dijken said. “As elected officials, when the community sees and takes steps to grab a vision, our role is to help empower them to get there.”