From bus driver to provincial politician, West Yellowhead MLA Eric Rosendahl has come a long way since being elected to the Legislative Assembly last year.
Prior to that fateful day, Rosendahl鈥揳 retired pulp mill worker鈥搆ept busy by sitting on various committees and filling in as a bus driver for students in Grande Yellowhead.
However, all of that changed on May 5, 2015 after the NDP clinched enough seats to form a majority government, ending the Progressive Conservative鈥檚 44-year grip on provincial politics.
For Rosendahl the impact was almost immediate. He left behind his small-town celebrity status, and quickly became a public figure throughout the province as he stepped into his new role as West Yellowhead鈥檚 MLA鈥攁 victory which was a shock even to him.
鈥淚 was pretty surprised,鈥� said Rosendahl, who defeated Robin Campbell, the province鈥檚 former finance minster.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think this would be a position I would ever hold.鈥�
Despite the new responsibilities tied to his job, Rosendahl said he has comfortably slid into his role as an MLA.
鈥淭he thing is it鈥檚 not really that much different from what I was doing before being elected. What I鈥檓 doing now is just a step higher up,鈥� Rosendahl said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just a different level of responsibilities.鈥�
While juggling another tier of tasks may come easily for Rosendahl, he admits the position isn鈥檛 without its challenges.
鈥淎 lot of it is trying to figure out who you need to talk to鈥� working with different levels of bureaucrats has been the biggest learning curve,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 learning how things fit together and who you need to talk to when an issue comes forward.鈥�
When Rosendahl isn鈥檛 figuring out who鈥檚 who in the province鈥檚 political world, he spends many hours on the road throughout West Yellowhead to get more acquainted with the people of his riding.
鈥淚t has been challenging in some areas because I just don鈥檛 know the people quite as well as I do in Hinton,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 one thing I鈥檓 working on.鈥�
To stay connected with his constituents, Rosendahl recently set up satellite offices in Edson, Jasper and Grande Cache. The satellite office in Jasper opened at the Jasper Legion in February. Either
Rosendahl or one of his staff members will be at the office every fourth Wednesday of the month from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Rosendahl said the Jasper hours have been well attended.
鈥淭he idea behind the satellite offices is to give these communities the same services as the people of Hinton,鈥� said Kathleen Westergaard, Rosendahl鈥檚 constituency manager.
鈥淧eople come into the office and explain what they are having problems with and then we have specialized contacts in all the different ministers鈥� offices who will help resolve their problems.鈥�
While issues vary depending on the town, Rosendahl said the most common complaints are woes regarding provincial programming, health services, transportation and workers鈥� compensation.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a broad range, but if people are having difficulties then we can support them,鈥� Rosendahl said. 鈥淲e help them understand why they are not getting what they want, but we often help them resolve their issues.
鈥淲e help with different processes to make sure things are being done in a fair manner.鈥�
Looking forward, there are still many issues to tackle, but as Rosendahl reflected on his past year in office he said he has experienced a handful of career highlights including an NDP tour throughout Alberta last year.
鈥淭hat was fantastic. We got to be out there and meet with different communities,鈥� he said. 鈥淛ust meeting the people is what it鈥檚 all about.鈥�
According to Rosendahl, another feat this year was the government鈥檚 resurrection of the Summer Temporary Employment Program (STEP), which was cut in 2013 by the previous government.
The program helps employers hire students for the summer.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been checking in with locals and the program has been highly accessed,鈥� Rosendahl said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 good when you bring stuff forward that鈥檚 actually being used.鈥�
As the MLA heads into his second year in office, he says there are no major plans on the table for West Yellowhead, but he will continue to support the people of the region.
On a provincial level, Rosendahl said he will continue to push the Alberta Jobs Plan that was outlined in the government鈥檚 budget. According to the government, the Alberta Jobs Plan is聽聽聽 designed to support families and communities, investing in infrastructure, diversifying Alberta鈥檚 energy industry, and supporting provincial businesses.
鈥淥ur jobs plan and our budget is front and center right now, but it鈥檚 also important for me to be there for the constituents,鈥� Rosendahl said. 鈥淏ut all in all I鈥檓 having a great time.
鈥淭here are some negative things, but you just have to look past those things and say 鈥極kay, what can we do better?鈥欌��
Kayla Byrne
[email protected]
