Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:00 Mark Murray. I'm pleased to be back on this.
Speaker 1 00:00:03 Yeah. We're happy to have you back. Thank you. So, uh, tell us, how has the campaign been going since the last time you're here? How are things?
Speaker 0 00:00:10 Yeah, it's been amazing and, uh, want to appreciate, uh, Canada for being what it is. The fact that I'm actually here, Ronnie, uh, for, uh, this position shows the kind of good country that Canada is, uh, being, uh, originally an immigrant, uh, some 12 years or thereabout into, uh, into the country itself. Um, and also I want to appreciate everyone. They overwhelming, uh, support, um, from Y M strong from the people in Fort McMurray. It's been amazing. Um, but it's been a lot of walk. I, you never know how big Fort McMurray is until you have to knock on every door. Right. It's been a lot of work, but I think it's been rewarding. Uh, people recognize me the name as being, uh, a good one, uh, funky. And I do the funky dance sometimes. And that's, so it's been amazing and amazing. Johnny. I have a good team working with me and I shout out to all of them and all my community. And generally speaking, it's been an amazing journey. Yes.
Speaker 1 00:01:35 Yes. Have you had a chance to sit down with any of the other people who are running from era council? As of yet?
Speaker 0 00:01:41 Um, actually yesterday we had, um, uh, I was invited to RMW B uh, junior on, um, I think a debate or just to present our platform. So of course we'd been running into each other, most of the people Ronnie I've met, except for those who of course just declared, uh, this past week. So it's been, uh, a great Johnny meeting, great people, and we have a whole list of great people, Ronnie. So it's a tight, uh, race and I, and in the end, um, I'm looking forward to be one of the six that will be, uh, winners in this race. But overall I've met a lot of amazing candidates.
Speaker 1 00:02:29 Yeah. I think that what you just said is something good for the people at home? Cause I don't know. I don't know if everybody will know that. So there's a few different wards and it seems like most people are running in the same ward as you ward one. And so how many seats does each ward get?
Speaker 0 00:02:44 Um, so for, um, our MWB ward where I am Ronnie, it's six people. So people are home. You have the opportunity to vote for the best six. I think we are up to about 20 people right now, but the best six, uh, is what would go, um, then what, two, I believe either one or two, the others, that one. And so people and so,
Speaker 1 00:03:14 Or six is the big one though. That's why, when you seeing all these people, there's six individuals until
Speaker 0 00:03:18 Yes. And that covers the entire city up to Greg Goa, uh, beacon hill, um, downtown Timberly Cheekwood so,
Speaker 1 00:03:29 And that's why it's so big. That's why so many people can be in there because it represents a huge amount of the population in the community. That's right. Okay. Very cool. Very cool. So has your thought process changed in, um, running since you've been on the campaign trail? Um, are you still have the same things that you're running for or has your mind been shifted to focus on some other key topics in the community?
Speaker 0 00:03:53 I think, um, my platform, um, hasn't changed. They key points that I'm Bronny on attracting not only attracting people on great minds, great people, but the retention is where we have the challenge. And also I'm looking forward to addressing the reasons why more people are out of this, uh, city than those who are, I mean, being welcome the new ones and, uh, particularly we need to pay attention the last, uh, um, uh, census shows that we've lost, uh, thousands of people since the fire and the float. We are down to 52,000. They're about, uh, in, in the city itself. So, um, so why are they no, here, that's my key, uh, Rodney point. And from there you see the different, uh, issues that I think we need to address as a city. And, uh, when we do that, uh, population itself has a ripple effect on the economy on stability of, uh, of, uh, our populace and things like that. So, um, but of course I've had all that, um, points and they all corroborate or they support my view of why, uh, why I'm running. So having changed, uh, just built more points on that domain, uh, four topics that I have. Yeah.
Speaker 1 00:05:22 So while you've been door knocking, I think that's a great opportunity to talk to people in Fort McMurray, like firsthand. Obviously they, as where there they are. Right. So has there been anything that you've heard over the last few weeks of door knocking that has been a surprise to you that you didn't think people were really, that they didn't care about so much, but now you're like, oh wow. That is something that they are they're passionate about.
Speaker 0 00:05:42 Yeah. I actually had an experience. I took a tour of Abasand about two weeks ago. It's it thought a lovely place force ID will know how big it is. Right. And then, but I also find out, uh, some issues of neglect or seemingly. So in terms of the walkways, some of the walkways are cracked or not well maintained. And, uh, some, we don't even have a prop out, um, walking trails. And, um, so I, I, I saw myself firsthand what people really need. So this campaign as actually my strategy in the company has helped me, uh, donate a lot. The last time I was here, I told you, I started by speaking with my children. What do they want in their Fort Mac Murray? I did that with the students, some students of Kiano Khaled, um, we Maine, Maine. Um, so I, when I came to Amazon, same question and, uh, there's a lady, Sandra legacy.
Speaker 0 00:06:50 I, she took a Toshi. She's an amazing woman. And, um, I saw some things that are really Mo so important to, she was so passionate to show me the things that need to improve in Amazon. And she, that caught my attention. And I've also seen similar situations in Fort McMurray, in genera. So it's been an amazing, uh, Johnny for me. And I've been able to see some things that we can improve on some things that you might not think is important, those like soft tissues, but they add up to make people want to take a difficult decision to either leave or stay, right.
Speaker 1 00:07:30 Yes. Right. Okay. Very cool. Yeah. You learn a lot by talking to people. There's no doubt about that. Especially like you said, it's a lot of work. I do what you're doing, knocking on all those doors talk, all those people. So where do you find time to do?
Speaker 0 00:07:46 Uh, so, um, what I do is once I clock out, because I still work full time, one of the signs are Syncrude to be precise. Um, so once I, uh, closed on Mondays, I don't go anywhere. I sort of rebuild refresh Monday evening, get myself ready to do some readings, listening to news and things like that catch up with myself. And then Tuesdays I start bought mainly from Friday evening. Yeah. Feel I dropped to sleep on Sunday and it's been, I think that's also the best time. You can really meet people in their comfort zone at the time that they are ready to talk at the time that they are ready to engage. So from Friday evening, so Sunday evening is my peak period of reaching out and touching and talking to people. And that has worked for me and most of my volunteers in my team as well, most of them are full-time employees or business owners. So we can, we really get ready and we move.
Speaker 1 00:08:55 Yeah. That's awesome. That's awesome. So I'm glad you, you're just helping me dovetail through this conversation seamlessly. Um, when it comes to your volunteers, like how did you rally a staff of volunteers and how do you manage individuals? Because I have no idea. I've never ran for politics before. So what is the responsibilities of a volunteer and how did you find them?
Speaker 0 00:09:17 I saw the, what happened is I've always been engaged with people. I've always had some phrase and people that maybe I've taught their life one way or the other, or they've touched mine and we'd been, we've been phrased. So I have what I call my core committee. The people who know everything, the cases, the secrets of my game. And then I have the larger group, the walking group. And so it's easy for me because I'm not just making friends for politics. They have always been there for me and I've always been there for them. So it was easy to get my team together. And also the LIDAR team are people that I've worked with on one project or the other, or we see do maybe in the community, maybe in church, maybe on the committees that I sit down. So it was easy for me to, and people actually came to me to say, I would set.
Speaker 0 00:10:19 And, um, I've met some amazing people. People come to me and tell me, you know, what, I'm going to help you in this area or the other area. And it's, um, it's mind blowing what people do to support you when they believe in your vision. Right? So that's how it's been. And like I said, I'm not just making like scouting. I ran down trying to impress. This are people, this are, uh, the circle of friends I've had or support us, uh, in my Johnny, in Fort McMurray. So it was easy for me to find people who would walk with me.
Speaker 1 00:10:58 Yes. So we're at the part of the show called the Mac city minute. You know what? This is all about. Tanner's going to ask you some questions. Best of luck to you. Tanner hit her with the maxi minute
Speaker 2 00:11:11 Question. Number one for you today. What is one thing you would like to keep at the same in the council from last term?
Speaker 0 00:11:22 Good question. I think, uh, um, they had a close working relationship that I think I've noticed, um, this might not be all 10 of them, but I know that there are some of them that are, you can see that they walked together. Well, I've seen, uh, um, for instance, Jeff and the few other counselors that I see that they still get along, despite, you know, sometimes the deciding vote maybe against a notion that somebody brings forward that doesn't break their friendship or working relationship. Right. So I like that to continue for us to be able to disagree, to agree and move on and put the interests of the city, uh, at the top, uh, priority of our list.
Speaker 2 00:12:14 Question number two. What is your favorite story from your campaign for council? He makes you think?
Speaker 0 00:12:25 Yeah, I think, uh, the favorite story I have is, uh, somebody who told me my name science a before me, and she would like to know the meaning of my name and that got me cracking up. And I had explained to her that, well, my name has a mini and most of our names in my, uh, origin are our home country. Most names have a mini and, uh, uh, the full, my full meaning, uh, is actually, uh, saying, this is, uh, someone that you need to love and take care of, does a summary of my name. And so I explained to her and I told her, I hope you love me. I hope you, you support me, uh, knowing the many of my name and, uh, because I'm out there trying to, uh, support you as well. And, uh, she actually replied and said, well, you got my vote now. Uh, because, uh, I could have been, uh, angry of feel laughed at, but I turned that around. So there are different challenges situations that I've seen, but, and pretty well. And, um, yeah. Okay.
Speaker 2 00:13:40 Question number three for you today. What is your favorite part of meeting all different types of people in Fort McMurray?
Speaker 0 00:13:48 I think the favorite part is I feel not alone. Most people came from somewhere else. That's my favorite pie. Fort Mac is like the center for different parts of the board, a meeting point for different people, different cultures. And, uh, also when it comes to the profession, uh, it's amazing the, uh, uh, the, the, the volume or the percentage of people that work in professional fields, engineers, doctors, different people, running their businesses, successful people and great students as well through my children. So I've met a lot of sports guys, uh, football community in Fort McMurray, my, because of my son. So I met a lot of, uh, the football guys in holy Trinity high school then. Yeah, very, uh, connected. I mean, we, we have a lot of different people, different professions, and that being able to meet a lot of folks,
Speaker 2 00:14:54 Question number four for you, what is one thing about Fort McMurray that you think its citizens might forget about?
Speaker 0 00:15:04 I did mind forget about, oh, I hope that we get to a point where we, we don't remember the pace of the day, uh, that we all had to evacuate. I believe mid-thought 2016, if that's correct, uh, that we had to trip out of the city, uh, that painful experience. I hope we can put it, uh, in, in the past. I hope we can all move forward, uh, by healing, by rebuilding, uh, by restarting and moving on to happy days in Fort McMurray. So that's what I'm hoping we would all be able to, uh, get through and forget it and move on.
Speaker 2 00:15:52 And your final question, how do you think being a site worker will help you in your run for council?
Speaker 0 00:15:59 Well, I think it gives me, it brought that view and <inaudible> view of the community. I live in the city. I walk for the oil signs. I think the story of Fort Mac Mori is incomplete without the oil science. That's the truth. I mean, or science is what fuel the economy of the city, of the province and even the country. And, um, also, uh, in the, uh, community, I live in the community, I relate with people and, uh, I've also saved in different boards. So, um, I have the advantage of knowing how the, uh, the oil signs impact the city and how we can make some changes to build it strong gap community, because I live here, I don't just walk in the oil sands. We have lots of people who walk in there are signs, but they'll recite in another community. So I see both views of the complete Fort Matt Murray.
Speaker 2 00:17:20 And those have been your five questions. There you
Speaker 0 00:17:22 Go. I survived.
Speaker 1 00:17:25 Yeah, you did. You killed it. Good job. Great job with questions. So as far as your, uh, family is concerned, how have you felt the support from, uh, your children?
Speaker 0 00:17:38 I think, uh, it's been great. My daughter is a, uh, a community activist, so she loves anything to do with people tapping, uh, speaking up, advocating for the people. So she's right solidly behind me. Um, and she's my greatest cheerleader and also my greatest critic. Okay. She says she wants perfection from me and she, she, she would drive you to do the need for, um, my son hasn't been around much is, uh, uh, a way in, in the university in the states. And, uh, he's, uh, not, uh, as I'll speaking or socially and gait so much, except for his, uh, his, uh, Sacco football, uh, men now, they are no longer boys, but even from there, he's constantly in touch and trying to know how I'm feeling. And he's very passionate, uh, and, uh, giving me emotional support, checking on me, how are you doing out the interview go and things like that. So I have full support of my, uh, the most, I call them the two most important human beings alive as are today, at least in my water. Yeah. And then of course my larger community, um, my larger family members, um, all around the globe, the support is amazing and a support and a Facebook and gauging everyone. Yeah. So it's been amazing. I have the support of all the people that matters to me.
Speaker 1 00:19:25 I love hearing that. That's awesome. All right. Well, we're at the end of the show. And at the end of every episode, uh, our guests have the opportunity to do a shameless shout out or plug. So the camera's on you. You have the mic, let's hear shameless, shout out or plug.
Speaker 0 00:19:39 So thank you all amazing Fort Mac people. It's been a great Johnny and it's been a, it's been amazing connecting with you all, hearing what I call, what you want to see in your Fort Mac Murray. And I am so ready. I'm so ready, warming up to take on this new challenge and be one of the 10 that will lead Fort McMurray. In the next time I am going to be walking for you. It's going to be a whole note to save you. And like I said earlier on my platform, hasn't changed. Um, believe we need to retain more the population and we need to take care of the people who are already in Fort McMurray rather than attracting and re toning for, um, uh, making Fort McMurray, a revolving door. Uh, my slogan is less transformed the city from a transient place to a home city, um, by what would be before we can do that, we need to bring resources to the people who work so hot.
Speaker 0 00:20:48 We need to ranging from the critical resources, medical specialists, to things like stalls, teenagers need to be able to shop here. Women need to be to shop here. We need to work on that. Uh, we need to partner better with our local businesses. We need to create an environment that makes them succeed, uh, whether it's subsidies or making, um, uh, stores more affordable, uh, grants and support them. Generally speaking, the city can no longer detach that should no longer see the, uh, the businesses as not part of them. We need to walk together to create stability for, uh, businesses in our city. That's why, um, one of the reasons why I'm Ronnie, I'm also Ronnie to see how we can bridge the gap between the city and government generally, and the indigenous community. It's time. It's time for Ross to walk together, to partner with indigenous community.
Speaker 0 00:21:52 So respect and whole, not their experiences. And for us to ask questions, not push down what we think the indigenous communities need. Boys engage them, find out until all the resources towards what will make the relationship better. We also need to partner with the <inaudible>. That's the natural resources that is God given that we have in the city, we need to maximize the oil sands advantage. Some parts of the oil sands is being done outside our city. We can create more jobs. The fabrication for instance, is brought here locally. The city needs to provide land or work together with the union and bring some of these jobs that can be done locally in Fort McMurray here. That's part of boosting the economy. I am Ronnie to see how we can all walk together together is stronger, and we have different, like I said, different, uh, uh, people here, different culture, but when we walk together, we can build it stronger for my boring.
Speaker 1 00:23:06 There we go. Love it. Geez. That was inspiring. Long story short. Well, thank you so much for coming on the show. I really do appreciate it. As I said, last time, that seat is always open for you. Come back as many times as you want, and I wish you nothing but luck in this race for council. All right. Well,
Speaker 0 00:23:26 Thank you all for tuning in. Uh, it's been a Horner to come here on air my view. I know by the time you're watching this, it will be maybe define not days to decision-making. Please go out there, vote funky, vote for me. I'm going to walk for you. My doors are going to be opened and I'm going to listen. I'm going to engage all through my communication with you does not end with the campaign. This is just the beginning, and I'm looking forward to walking with all that great leaders together is stronger. The time for change is now, and I'm ready for the job.
Speaker 1 00:24:09 Love it. Okay. Well Fort MacMurray, wood, Buffalo, and the rest of the world. If you're not inspired, you are now. Thank you so much for tuning in. I really do appreciate it. Have a great day and we'll see you tomorrow. Thank you.
Speaker 0 00:24:21 Nice. Thank you. What funky.
