When long-time local residents heard the news earlier this week that former Steinbach MLA, Albert Driedger had passed away, it no doubt brought back a flood of memories regarding the local political stalwart.
Albert Driedger was one of those unique individuals who could leave an immediate and long lasting impression on people. Most often when I am in conversation with people who met Albert during his political career, they remark that “he was quite a character.” What people often remember is the incredible energy he displayed, his very sharp sense of humour and his forthright manner. When you left a conversation with Albert you often left with a smile on your face and knew without any doubt where he stood on an issue.
As an MLA for both the Emerson and the Steinbach constituencies, ranging some 22 years beginning in 1977, Albert made personal connections with his constituents and became known in the P.C. Caucus as the ultimate grassroots politician. He and his wife Mary were known as incredible campaigners and Albert always took pride in the number of doors he knocked on during an election. He was known to leave fellow campaigners many years younger than him in his dust as he went door-to-door day after day.
While many today forget, when Albert entered politics there were many areas of the southeast part of Manitoba that did not traditionally support the P.C. Party. Through his hard work, he turned these areas into P.C. strongholds. He was always quick to give credit to his wife Mary and they became known as a dynamic political team. Albert often commented that for every vote he lost, Mary earned him two.
That grassroots connection was helpful in the Manitoba Legislature and in his role as a Cabinet Minister. He had a very common sense approach to issues and it is one that earned him the respect not only of his own colleagues in the P.C. Caucus but of the opposition members in the Legislature as well. As Minister of both Highways and later Natural Resources, he undertook initiatives that bettered the province, but he never forgot his home riding which benefited from many of the projects he spearheaded.
If there was ever any doubt that Albert was committed to community and to people, it was dispelled when, long after he retired from politics, he began working to get the Menno Home expanded in his beloved hometown of Grunthal. Till his final days he was working on behalf of others.
Before being elected as MLA for the Steinbach Constituency, I had the opportunity to work with Albert at the Legislature for several years. Those were times that I enjoyed very much and it is telling that virtually everyone who worked with Albert in politics speaks fondly of their association with him. While Albert prided himself on being both forthright and direct, he had a remarkably soft heart for the people he represented, his family and most especially for his wife.
On behalf of all of the residents of the Steinbach Constituency and the southeast part of Manitoba, I want to extend condolences to Mary and the entire Driedger family. We share in your loss and are thankful for the contribution Albert made to our province and our region.
