Rick Strankman
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Rick Strankman MLA |
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| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Drumheller-Stettler | |
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Assumed office April 23, 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Jack Hayden |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
June 20, 1953 Oyen, Alberta |
| Political party | Wildrose Party |
| Spouse(s) | Dianne Strankman |
| Residence | Altario, Alberta |
| Website | rickstrankman.ca |
Richard Strankman (born June 20, 1953) is a Canadian politician who is an elected member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the electoral district of Drumheller-Stettler.
In addition to serving on both the Standing Committee on Private Bills and the legislative policy committee on Alberta’s Economic Future, Strankman is the Tourism, Parks and Recreation critic for the Wildrose Party Official Opposition Caucus.
Strankman has owned and operated a farming business since 1973. From 1999 to 2011 he also volunteered as secretary/treasurer of the Western Barley Growers Association. Although initially interested in agriculture, Strankman became increasingly involved in politics and social activism in response to federal regulation of the agriculture industry, including legislation relating to the Canadian Wheat Board. His commitment to public service began early on and as a youth Strankman was honoured with the Queen’s scout award by Boy Scouts of Canada. Strankman also has a keen interest in aviation and has held a pilot’s licence and done aerial application since 1974.
Strankman was jailed in 2002 after being charged under the Customs Act for taking 756 bushels of wheat across the U.S. border in protest of the Canadian Wheat Board's monopoly. Strankman and other farmers arrested received a pardon from Prime Minister Stephen Harper on August 1, 2012, when the federal government's Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act came into effect, which allowed producers to opt out of the Canadian Wheat Board and sell wheat on the open market.
At a reunion with 12 of 13 farmers who had been jailed for taking wheat across the border, Strankman stood by his decision to participate in the act of civil disobedience. He served one week of a 180-day sentence.
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