Harvard Media News reached out to each candidate running for office to ask a set of questions about the office for which they are running. The following is our Q&A with Fort McMurray Ward 1 Candidate, Verna Murphy. All responses are from the candidate or their agent and are unedited by Harvard Media News.
Harvard: Why are you running/what is your motivation?
I am running for council because I love a challenge. I feel like everything has just been status quo for too long. It’s time to roll up our sleeves, work together and get some things done. I don’t want to just talk about what’s wrong, I want to actually make things better. I still see so much potential for great things in our region, and we need a united mayor and council to bring positive changes. I want our community to be the example when people are looking for cities that are welcoming, diverse and successful.
Harvard: What qualifications make you suited for office?
I served on council from 2017 until 2021. During that time I showed up prepared and ready for all meetings-but I also proved that I could work in high stress situations and represent our community in a respectful and meaningful way. Being on council is an honor that I did not, and would not take lightly. While sitting at that table you represent the region as a whole and I am ready to put my best foot forward, even in difficult situations. Harvard:
What three issues will you bring before council that are of key interest to you?
3 issues that I would like to see brought before council in the next 4 years would be a reflection of what I hear from residents. People want good service delivery, and that includes things like snow removal and fixing the potholes. I would also like to see our relationships improving. Having our Indigenous leaders, along with industry leaders working with us hand in hand when asking for more infrastructure for our region from the provincial and federal governments will only strengthen those requests. When those relationships improve I see things like lobbying for more doctors and our own cancer center attainable.Beyond that, I love bringing forward things that are often overlooked but will make a positive difference in the average resident’s lives. One thing that I would like to look into more is for residents to be able to use municipal spaces that are sitting empty-we often talk about building owners who have their buildings sitting empty-but often we could say the same for municipal spaces. We need to start being the example that we expect from others.
Harvard: How familiar are you with the Municipal Government Act?
As I mentioned, I did serve on council from 2017 until 2021 and during that time we were still rebuilding from the fire, and then we had the flood and pandemic. Through all of that experience, I learned a lot about the MGA. As it is a living document, I often go back to see any
new changes, and examine how they might affect our region. Our region is considered a specialized municipality and it is very important when working with the other levels of government that you understand the MGA. I also served on the Emergency Advisory Committee, and came to know the Emergency Management Bylaw, which was integral during the events over the last number of years in our region.
Comments