MyMcMurray Portal

Hear Keith McGrath’s speech announcing his candidacy here:

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Hear McGrath’s media scrum following the speech here:

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Keith McGrath is hoping the third time’s the charm.

The Catholic school board trustee is entering the Wood Buffalo council by-election race after narrowly missing out in 1997 and ’98.

He also announced several policies he’d pursue – including a tax on the region’s shadow population.

“The[re are] people that are making thousands and thousand of dollars, that take their cheque back to anyplace in Canada, not give us a nickel, use our services,” he said. “So let’s take — for example, 32,000 rooms? Is five bucks a day too much to ask for a tax levy that can be spent back in the community? I don’t think so.”

McGrath says he’ll stay on the Catholic board to finish his term if he’s elected.

“I have no plans whatsoever to give up on the Catholic school board,” he said. “In fact, I would never cost the taxpayers another by-election on my behalf; I’m not that selfish.”

He also says his experience on the board prepares him well.

“Not only am I a school board trustee,” he said, “but I also work and form relationships with the provincial counterparts, the federal counterparts, and know how to get the job done.”

“The decisions that are made by city council on a daily basis affect the citizens more so than any other level of government – and I dig that.”

McGrath was introduced at today’s launch by longtime councillor Sheldon Germain.

Published May 24, 2012