Christine: Welcome to the introductory episode of Conversations with the Candidates, Midland Votes 2026. I am Christine Cooper, one half of the kick-ass duo that is The ReSisters. And I'd like to welcome the listeners to our studio, the home of No Ostriching Here. where MJ and I, we just do not stick our head in the ground for anybody. Joining me for this inaugural episode of this Conversations with the Candidate is my podcast partner, my partner in crime, my favorite superhero
MJ Nabuurs: Ha ha ha.
Christine: who doesn't need a cape, MJ Nabuurs
MJ Nabuurs: Hi, Christine. This is I love that when you say from our home because we're both in our own homes, separate places, right? I'm in our guest
Christine: Right.
MJ Nabuurs: bedroom because I don't have like a studio. And you've created a cool corner in yours,
Christine: Yeah.
MJ Nabuurs: right? So that's pretty fun. So yeah, Christine and I get to get to see each other frequently online here. And then once in a while we make sure we get in person, right? Which is awesome. So
Christine: Which usually involves food.
MJ Nabuurs: Which you almost I hope it involves food, especially if Christine's cooking because she's so good.
Christine: Thank you.
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. So listen, I am like so excited that you're doing this. You have been so passionate about municipal politics from the days when you were involved in them yourself. And I
Christine: Yes.
MJ Nabuurs: certainly know through our five years together of doing these audio spaces that that it it matters a great deal to you. And it does to me too. You know, we talk a lot about the impact it has, you know, why people should see it as a much more important piece of their voting repertoire sort of thing than than most do. so I'm really excited for you to do that. I I didn't know if people knew who The ReSisters are or why we even got that name. So maybe I'll take a second and just describe us a little.
Christine: by all means you have at it, girlfriend.
MJ Nabuurs: So about about five years ago or so, I was in need of some help and online Christine and I knew each other from doing some advocacy around long term care. And she reached out and said, I think I can help you with that. It was to get rapid tests, you know, at the start of the pandemic. And she was so kind, lived an hour away from me, but somehow because she had family in the area, she made a trip down. And met me in my driveway and provided me some rapid antigen tests and we chatted and met each other there. And not long after that, we had further conversations on the phone and talked about how we thought maybe we could provide like some live live spaces to talk to really fascinating women. and then over time we just realized how many amazing humans there are out there of all genders. So we've been talking and talking and talking. And we because we do really believe that we've managed to have some conversations around things that some people just can't be bothered to or would like to avoid. So hence the "No Ostriching Here." we don't, you know, keep our heads buried in the sand. you know, people got to know us as The ReSisters and and it's sort of re - sisters So it's a little bit of a play on words. And ever since we decided to make it a a more formal podcast platform because we prefer this to where we were doing the live spaces. And we're really excited for all the amazing people we've been speaking to. But super excited about this for you, Christine. I know you're doing your community a big favor by by hosting these.
Christine: Well, I want to thank you for your support in this because we are using The ReSisters resources and The ReSisters studio to do this. when I brought this idea to you, you were immediately girlfriend, you go, right? Yeah. And
MJ Nabuurs: Whoop whoop. Yeah.
Christine: then when I said, Can I use a studio? And you're like, have at it. And so it's really great for me to have you here in this beginning kickoff episode. Cause there's a couple of things we want to talk. About why we're doing this But I couldn't be doing this without your support, actually, it feels weird to fly solo in an interview. I have to tell you, you know,
MJ Nabuurs: yeah, I bet, Yeah.
Christine: like it well, we both done solo interviews, but I have to say I think we're always at our best when we're together. I feel like a Jack Johnson song, you know, we're always better when we're together. But
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah, yeah. That's good.
Christine: thank you. But this was really important to me because Midland's got a lot of things going on country and and
MJ Nabuurs: Hm, yeah.
Christine: that are resonating all across the board. Everything from affordability, homelessness, mental health and addictions, housing. there's just so
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: Then we have the onslaught of the AI data centers, which we've now discovered is a municipal application. And so
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: these applications are going forward to municipalities where they're just not really equipped to really know. And so there's so much to talk about. And yet I'm so shocked at how low the turnout, the voter turnout at the municipal election.
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: level is nationally, the average is thirty nine percent.
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah, it's pretty bad.
Christine: That is just sad, sad,
MJ Nabuurs: Well it
Christine: sad, sad.
MJ Nabuurs: and it's pretty bad because we know what the impact is to when you do vote in municipal elections. It carries a lot of weight, more weight than you think, your individual vote. and I know you have some knowledge around that, right?
Christine: Yeah, so I've talked to a lot of people about this. And we all hear that line, I'm just one vote, like my vote doesn't really matter. It's not going to change the world. Well, you would be wrong about that, let me tell
MJ Nabuurs: Mm-hmm.
Christine: you. Okay. Because in a provincial election, those seats are won by five, ten, thousand votes. In federal elections, sometimes they're 30,000, 40,000 votes. But
MJ Nabuurs: Right.
Christine: in a municipal election, we could be talking about two, three, four votes. I mean, when the vote
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. Yeah.
Christine: turnout is so small and you have a counsellor at large mandate going on, people can get elected with, a thousand votes. It's just crazy. so
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah, is.
Christine: let me tell you what happens when you don't show up. And Doug
MJ Nabuurs: Yep.
Christine: Ford is a perfect example of it. So we
MJ Nabuurs: Mm-hmm.
Christine: had the lowest turnout in the last provincial election that gave Doug Ford his unfettered control, right? Unchecked.
MJ Nabuurs: Right.
Christine: 37% of the vote came out. So when
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: you break that out out of all the eligible voters, Doug Ford got Control of the whole shooting match off of 17.5% of the voters. Think about that. Right. That's
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. Yeah. It's such a small representation of of the province, right? Yeah.
Christine: right. And the other thing I want to mention because I just have a hate on for Doug Ford right now. Right now,
MJ Nabuurs: Ha ha ha.
Christine: Ontario has been saddled with the largest debt in its history. So much for the Penny pinch and blah blah blah all that bullshit out of those guys down there. Biggest deficit in history. That's what happens when you don't show up. Okay. So in
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah, yeah.
Christine: a municipal election, I mean, these are your neighbors who are running. Like one
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: young fella, he lives up around the corner from me. I I actually married him and his wife, right? It's a
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: small town. And you you see each other in the grocery stores, you see each other. at different functions, golf tournaments, fundraisers, at community ribbon cuttings we're a port community. we've got the Butter Tart Festival. We've got,
MJ Nabuurs: Mm-hmm.
Christine: all sorts of things going on around Midland. And as I said again, we are dock town. you need to be present and there's a lot of things going on here right now. So that excuse of my vote doesn't make a difference, I ain't buying that bullshit. That
MJ Nabuurs: Well, and now people know. Now people know that it actually does. So it's really good that you're bringing this up. Because it's worth
Christine: well
MJ Nabuurs: I would suggest, if you don't mind, I would say that is something that you should probably say in every interview you have. Because maybe not everybody's gonna catch every interview you do with all the counselors and mayoral candidates, right? But
Christine: Right.
MJ Nabuurs: that is a really important point just to show them just how much influence their one vote. does have, right? And
Christine: Right.
MJ Nabuurs: the other part that I liked about what you said is, you know, the fact that all these candidates and eventually elected officials are your community members. so
Christine: Mm-hmm.
MJ Nabuurs: they have a vested interest in seeing it do well. The, you know, seeing your communities succeed because it's their home too. Right. So like it it's it's a wonderful time to really support and help promote the people that you really want to see do things for your community because They're likely gonna be the ones that are really gung ho to do it, you know.
Christine: Well, you know, I've been giving so much thought now and going through the getting the lists of questions together and everything because
MJ Nabuurs: Mm, mm hmm.
Christine: questions for an incumbent candidate and questions for a neophyte candidate, they are very different, right?
MJ Nabuurs: right. Right. Yeah, that's right.
Christine: one, you already know somebody a little bit. They've been on council for four years. You've seen them around
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: the community. You know how they voted. You hear what they have to say, right? And
MJ Nabuurs: Right, right.
Christine: here's the other thing that I pointed out to some people, stop and think about this last four years. That min that council was elected in a pandemic for
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: the first time that we had. online and telephone voting ever. And yet it had the lowest turnout, lowest voting hist in the history of Midland. and then we had Deadpool Council. I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be crude or rude or disrespectful or anything, but we did have two council members who passed away and one council member who had an incident at council. it was a challenging time. And as if that just wasn't enough. Midland got caught in that really crazy weather incident last winter year and a half ago. And we had the blackout, right? So we had
MJ Nabuurs: yeah. Right, right.
Christine: we had a pandemic, we had Deadpool Council, they tossed out the Midland Bay Landing proposal, which actually is a blessing. And we had that crazy ass thing that happened in our community where literally Midland went dark for like five days. Like it
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. Yeah, which is a lot.
Christine: there were parts the community that were still dark for like 10, days after the blackout.
MJ Nabuurs: That is that's so dangerous, right? Yeah. Yeah.
Christine: Mm-hmm. Yeah. And and to add in, like when I look at, you know, the things that what has been on this council's agenda in those four years, right? And so really kind of bringing that all together and so I can ask some really good questions and use that that interview to help other people understand what I understand, right?
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. Yeah.
Christine: and hear what I'm hearing, right? And it's
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah, it's great.
Christine: you know, just that calm, non-interrupted interview. Like one candidate had suggested to me that maybe because this was going to be such a ginac gigantic effort was to maybe bring three in at a time and and have them all talk. And I went, no, no,
MJ Nabuurs: Mm. No, yeah.
Christine: no. Because we all know that there's always an alpha a dominant in the conversation. You and I, we just arm wrestle for that. But right? Like so
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. That's funny. No, it's awesome. That's great. That's funny.
Christine: and I don't want, somebody who's not as experienced their voice being drowned out. What I want in these interviews is to hear their voice, their authentic
MJ Nabuurs: Mm-hmm.
Christine: story, what they believe in. what they hope for in this community, what skill sets they think they have to bring to the table that's gonna make me vote for them. the
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. And what values they hold, like, you know.
Christine: and there's the values. And then I would like a little diversity in my council. You know? I
MJ Nabuurs: Sure. Absolutely. Yeah.
Christine: in the previous council, the the late deputy mayor, he was indigenous and really well loved in the community. And
MJ Nabuurs: Hmm.
Christine: I think we're missing that element in this election, although I could be wrong. I don't really know everybody's, you know, whatever. Yeah,
MJ Nabuurs: Crowned or whatever, yeah, yeah.
Christine: thank you. and male, female, or however people identify, you know, there's that. And
MJ Nabuurs: Yep.
Christine: then, age. Like I
MJ Nabuurs: Yep, absolutely.
Christine: we need somebody who's older. Because obviously we have an older community. We want to have their lived experience. That's
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: important but at the same time, this is a community of young families and playgrounds. And you know, so you
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. And you know what? It's good that you bring all that up about diversity because I, you know, in the world around us there's a lot of discussion, right? About whether they talk about DEI or whatever. But the reality is the data is overwhelmingly in favor of for like companies or organizations or any sort of political party that the more diversity that you have, whether it be race, age, you know, orientation, whatever, the better off that organization is. They're much more successful, because there's so many amazing experiences to come to help inform their choices and stuff. So you ultimately make better choices. so I just think it's great that that sort of something that you value. I know that about you. And and hopefully people, you know, that that get elected in will be, you know, sort of supportive of that as well, right? Or the voters will be as
Christine: Mm.
MJ Nabuurs: well. Of course, you know, you have to obviously you're not choosing just solely on the color of someone's skin or whatever, but just to be completely open to see the merits of every candidate, regardless of all of those things. And then you can make the best
Christine: Mm-hmm.
MJ Nabuurs: the best choice for your community. Yeah.
Christine: Yeah. And so it's just being a really I think it's a really important to hear that voice and, have those conversations. And I do have a script, but you know us, MJ. We like we're
MJ Nabuurs: Mm-hmm.
Christine: so organic in our conversations that sometimes
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: somebody gives you a response that kind of puts you onto another tumble of a discussion, right? My ch
MJ Nabuurs: Well, that's why we often call them conversations and not interviews. Right? Yeah.
Christine: Exactly. Thank you. Yes. They're they're far more authentic. And I think you see much more of the person in that, right? And
MJ Nabuurs: Right.
Christine: and I just really, really need to remind my community why it's so important to show up. people are like, enough with this voting, you know, like nagging at me. Cause I ask everybody right now, when they
MJ Nabuurs: Mm-hmm.
Christine: Bitch and complain about the community. The first question out of my mouth is, Did you vote? Because
MJ Nabuurs: Mm-hmm.
Christine: if you didn't vote, you can shut your pie hole, take a seat, and listen. Because the rest of us have to suffer with the fallout of your not showing up. Right? So,
MJ Nabuurs: Right. Yeah. Yep.
Christine: when I was younger, MJ, well, Hold on, before I get into that, I just want to say this. Midland has gone again to an all online telephone voting system, right? And
MJ Nabuurs: Mm. Mm-hmm.
Christine: I've heard people complaining about, the old school way. And you and I talked about this before. Maybe you could talk about what for some people voting in an election was about as well.
MJ Nabuurs: So, I'm not sure like what is it specifically that you mean?
Christine: About the human contact, the socialization,
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah, people I like I even remember bringing each of my kids or, you know, when they became old enough to vote. It was a really cool thing to be walking into a building that's all about the election. You walk in and I remember in both cases for my older two when the staff working there learned that it was their first time voting, they were like clapping for them once they did. Like there's a real, you know, it's the same as wanting to read your paper books instead of on your Kindle or something, right? It's that tangible type thing. And it it is a community event. A lot of volunteers are there working, you know, at the ballot boxes. So it's very normal for humans to, you know, appreciate that kind of thing. I think nowadays having it online and via the telephone, although you lose the tangible piece, which I get, the benefits are it is so much more accessible to to everybody who who is eligible to vote. Whether it's that you happen to feel sick that day, the day that you were planning to go, you could do it from home, whether you work shift work, whether you've got children or you know, you don't have caregivers for an elderly you know, for an elderly loved one that you care for children whether you're elderly or disabled or whatever, like there's it just makes it more possible for more people to vote. And because I can understand if it was online only. You know, because that can be intimidating to a lot of people who don't have access to laptops, et cetera, or just, you know, are tech scared, you know, or just don't have the knowledge. but the phone, you know, most people can still operate a phone and press buttons if they need to. So I think although you lose that little h human piece, I think the fact that more people can actually access it now is a really great thing.
Christine: So what Midlanders need to know is that they will get, they need to watch their mail in September, which is what we're rolling into right now.
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: And they will receive in the post from the town of Midland, just like they get their tax bill and they get their water
MJ Nabuurs: right.
Christine: bill, they're gonna get another one and it's gonna have their V O L
MJ Nabuurs: Voter instruction letter or something? Is that it? Yeah.
Christine: number something it's a voter instruction number, but they get a pin number.
MJ Nabuurs: Right. Yeah, okay.
Christine: That's assigned to them So
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: they just simply go online and you start by entering in your PIN number. And that immediately it's an identifier. And we work on counsellor at large. We're not
MJ Nabuurs: Mm-hmm.
Christine: by ward. Midland is approaching about eighteen thousand people. We have seven counselors at large deputy mayors my god even i'm getting confused now yeah i'm feeling overwhelmed
MJ Nabuurs: Now you you just got so many.
Christine: we have a deputy mayor and seven counsellor at large i know that the counsellor at large list is 16 candidates
MJ Nabuurs: Mm.
Christine: five of them are incumbents and two of them have moved into running for deputy mayor.
MJ Nabuurs: okay.
Christine: yeah. So that means there's, in my opinion, two seats in play, because they're vacant, right?
MJ Nabuurs: Mm.
Christine: And cause incumbents usually have the edge. People know them and people go with what they know. And if they have a track record.
MJ Nabuurs: Right. Right, right. It's easier than looking into anybody else. Some people, right? That's their easy vote, whether it whether it's informed
Christine: There there is there is
MJ Nabuurs: or not, right?
Christine: so, it's a matter of click, click, click. And so when people natter at me about voting online, I have to remind them, did you order DoorDash recently?
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. Right? Yeah.
Christine: Did you pay a bill? Have you been gambling online?
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: Probably get a big fat yes for that one. So don't totally like have you submitted your income tax?
MJ Nabuurs: Mm-hmm. Have you renewed your driver's license online? Yeah. is the way of things, yeah. Yeah. Like, and you know what? For people who don't do a lot of that, I can understand it's, you know, it's a little scary because you hear about, you know, electronic theft and things, right? But you know, these these types of things, government-related things, typically have good checks and balances. Plus,
Christine: Mm.
MJ Nabuurs: I noticed in the information that you shared with me, Christine, there is voter assistance. available to people who either don't have access to an internet connection, perhaps don't want to use it, or access to a phone. So they can, you know, it says if you require registration updates even, an in-person help center will run at municipal offices from October 13th to October 26th. So people can get help if they're not comfortable doing those, the phone or the online thing on their own, which is really great, right?
Christine: Or you can do what I did with my seniors who lived on either side of me in the last election was
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: basically I went over to their house with a laptop and I hooked them up. Right. I showed them how it worked and they were like, Wow, that's so easy, right?
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah, which is awesome, you know? And yeah. it is. Yeah, once you know, right? Yeah, yeah. if you don't mind me adding, I something that we've talked about before I know is obviously we talk all the time about how important it is for people to get out and vote. And to me, voting is not the last step, is it? It's to me it's the first step.
Christine: First step.
MJ Nabuurs: And having your voice heard. in hopefully being represented by who your choices were. and if not and or whether they were or not, it's the first step in you having kind of a really quite a right to hold them accountable to what they promised they would try to do or, you know, to commend them for the great things they are doing. So voting doesn't just like, you know what, yay, you got in. We have a responsibility too, when you can and and and in whatever way you can to help those people meet the things that they promised. Cause they need, you know, they're not getting paid trillions of dollars. We know that a lot of people have a hard time. with the negative comments, particularly online, when it can get quite vitriolic and sometimes dangerous for them. So, you know, let's let's
Christine: Yeah, yeah, well we know that.
MJ Nabuurs: vote for the people you enjoy and then give them support throughout their tenure in that role so that they
Christine: Mm, mm.
MJ Nabuurs: have the best chance of doing for you what they really wanted to do.
Christine: Yeah, because if they're successful, we're successful as a community collectively. And sometimes
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. Exactly.
Christine: we forget that, right? And it and this isn't about a gotcha thing, you know. That's another
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: thing. some people thought I was gonna use this like a gotcha thing. And I'm like, yeah, no, not doing that. And the other thing was so funny, I got an email from one person who asked me if I was what did they say? are you a local influencer? And I laughed when I read that and I wrote
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. Yeah.
Christine: back and I went, No, I ain't no local influencer. I'm a goddamn global influencer, right? I'm sorry. I should take that back. That that wasn't a very nice way. I'm just a global influencer. Cause
MJ Nabuurs: That yeah.
Christine: I know you get really peed off at me when I use the G D or the J C
MJ Nabuurs: Ha ha
Christine: stuff, right?
MJ Nabuurs: No, that's not it. That's not why. No, that's not why I know. Yeah.
Christine: No, I'm just t teasing, but out of respect, it was funny because now all of a sudden I'm getting tons of messages and I've had a flurry of friend requests from Midland. Yes,
MJ Nabuurs: they w yeah, they're Good.
Christine: I put a post up on Facebook yesterday
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: saying that I was gonna do this. And The next thing you know, like scuttle, scuttle, scuttle, scuttle. And and then the deputy mayor, who has her interview booked in
MJ Nabuurs: Good.
Christine: a couple of days, reached out and then she asked, me, Can you make this post shareable? Which means I have to make it public. And you know, my god, the flying monkeys.
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. yeah. Woo. All right. You just make it public you can make it just public for a bit and then you can shut it down if you right?
Christine: Yeah, the the flying monkeys are coming. You know that, MJ.
MJ Nabuurs: But you know what's important to know for your listeners too, and I'll say it on your behalf if you don't mind, is look, you've probably already noticed that we're not shy about sharing our opinions or thoughts on things. and in our other podcast episodes, we certainly don't shy away from, you know, saying what we find important, whether it's in politics or in the world around us. But I know that these particular, like you said, it's not a moment like a gotcha moment type interview or conversation that you're setting up. It's a chance, and this is something that's compelled us from the start, which is it's just a chance for us who have found a way to access people that the average person is having trouble accessing and sharing what we learn from them with everybody who's interested in hearing about it. So in this case,
Christine: Right.
MJ Nabuurs: you're going to learn as much as you can about this candidate in 30 minutes, and it's not So you can spout off your political stances. You're fully there for that person. This is their time to share you, right? And you're gonna guide the conversation, obviously, with your questions and whatever. but it's so like it's such a community service for you to be doing this. I don't know if people realize it's not it takes a lot of time to do this kind of thing. And if you get everybody, that's however many 30-minute interviews, plus editing, you know, whatever, just to get it published and up online, like.
Christine: Twenty, yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Post production, right?
MJ Nabuurs: It takes some time so and the and the preparation. So I think it's fabulous. I think it's supremely generous of your time. It comes from
Christine: Thank you.
MJ Nabuurs: a place of wanting your community to be better and to be as informed as they can be going into the vote. And I really hope and I'm looking forward to it making a really positive difference and seeing the voting numbers be a lot higher this year because of it. I think if people really embrace it, I think you'll do a lot of good for your community. I'm excited.
Christine: Thank you. I I wanna quickly share a story because we're gonna wind this up in a minute because we're sticking hard and fast to that 30 minute roll. There's
MJ Nabuurs: Okay. Okay.
Christine: a reason why I'm so passionate about voting, and I'm gonna tell you why. So when I was younger I and I worked in community mental health and addictions, I worked with a woman for a couple of years. She was Filipino, she was an immigrant to Canada. And she was getting to vote in her very first election as a Canadian, and she talked nonstop, like ad nauseum about voting, voting, voting, and this and that,
MJ Nabuurs: No.
Christine: even talking about I'm picking out my voting outfit. And I was just like, my gosh, you know. Anyway,
MJ Nabuurs: Aww it's awesome though. Yeah.
Christine: I was kind of like, you know, I was I guess, you know, I get that look on my face, like, here we go again. And then she said,
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: I want to tell you something. Christine, she said, this will be the very first election that I've ever voted in. She said, I lived in the Philippines under the Marcos regime. This will be the very first election that I'll ever vote in that I haven't had an AK forty seven pointed at me watching me while I vote. I just got hair stand up on the back of my neck. Think about that. And
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah, just everybody just sit for a second with that. Like we have never been under that kind of threat or coercion to vote a certain way. That's yeah, that's a reality none of us well, those who are voting here now at least, experience now and It makes it really hard to understand anybody's excuse for not voting, doesn't it?
Christine: Yeah, and it changed it changed the trajectory for me. And I never, ever, ever missed an opportunity to vote at any level of government after that. So on that note, you know, I want to thank you for joining me in this inaugural episode and introducing The ReSisters to my hometown. I don't know if that's a good thing yet. I told you about the
MJ Nabuurs: Whoop whoop. Well we were in a mi But we were in an article in Midland way back about our origins, you remember? Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
Christine: yeah. Yeah, totally, right? Anyway, I just want to say thank you for joining us and to our listeners joining us here in our "No Ostriching Here." studio. and we hope that the conversations help you make an informed voting decision, but more importantly, that you show up. And we'll catch you on the flip side.
MJ Nabuurs: Ha ha ha.
Christine: who doesn't need a cape, MJ Nabuurs
MJ Nabuurs: Hi, Christine. This is I love that when you say from our home because we're both in our own homes, separate places, right? I'm in our guest
Christine: Right.
MJ Nabuurs: bedroom because I don't have like a studio. And you've created a cool corner in yours,
Christine: Yeah.
MJ Nabuurs: right? So that's pretty fun. So yeah, Christine and I get to get to see each other frequently online here. And then once in a while we make sure we get in person, right? Which is awesome. So
Christine: Which usually involves food.
MJ Nabuurs: Which you almost I hope it involves food, especially if Christine's cooking because she's so good.
Christine: Thank you.
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. So listen, I am like so excited that you're doing this. You have been so passionate about municipal politics from the days when you were involved in them yourself. And I
Christine: Yes.
MJ Nabuurs: certainly know through our five years together of doing these audio spaces that that it it matters a great deal to you. And it does to me too. You know, we talk a lot about the impact it has, you know, why people should see it as a much more important piece of their voting repertoire sort of thing than than most do. so I'm really excited for you to do that. I I didn't know if people knew who The ReSisters are or why we even got that name. So maybe I'll take a second and just describe us a little.
Christine: by all means you have at it, girlfriend.
MJ Nabuurs: So about about five years ago or so, I was in need of some help and online Christine and I knew each other from doing some advocacy around long term care. And she reached out and said, I think I can help you with that. It was to get rapid tests, you know, at the start of the pandemic. And she was so kind, lived an hour away from me, but somehow because she had family in the area, she made a trip down. And met me in my driveway and provided me some rapid antigen tests and we chatted and met each other there. And not long after that, we had further conversations on the phone and talked about how we thought maybe we could provide like some live live spaces to talk to really fascinating women. and then over time we just realized how many amazing humans there are out there of all genders. So we've been talking and talking and talking. And we because we do really believe that we've managed to have some conversations around things that some people just can't be bothered to or would like to avoid. So hence the "No Ostriching Here." we don't, you know, keep our heads buried in the sand. you know, people got to know us as The ReSisters and and it's sort of re - sisters So it's a little bit of a play on words. And ever since we decided to make it a a more formal podcast platform because we prefer this to where we were doing the live spaces. And we're really excited for all the amazing people we've been speaking to. But super excited about this for you, Christine. I know you're doing your community a big favor by by hosting these.
Christine: Well, I want to thank you for your support in this because we are using The ReSisters resources and The ReSisters studio to do this. when I brought this idea to you, you were immediately girlfriend, you go, right? Yeah. And
MJ Nabuurs: Whoop whoop. Yeah.
Christine: then when I said, Can I use a studio? And you're like, have at it. And so it's really great for me to have you here in this beginning kickoff episode. Cause there's a couple of things we want to talk. About why we're doing this But I couldn't be doing this without your support, actually, it feels weird to fly solo in an interview. I have to tell you, you know,
MJ Nabuurs: yeah, I bet, Yeah.
Christine: like it well, we both done solo interviews, but I have to say I think we're always at our best when we're together. I feel like a Jack Johnson song, you know, we're always better when we're together. But
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah, yeah. That's good.
Christine: thank you. But this was really important to me because Midland's got a lot of things going on country and and
MJ Nabuurs: Hm, yeah.
Christine: that are resonating all across the board. Everything from affordability, homelessness, mental health and addictions, housing. there's just so
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: Then we have the onslaught of the AI data centers, which we've now discovered is a municipal application. And so
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: these applications are going forward to municipalities where they're just not really equipped to really know. And so there's so much to talk about. And yet I'm so shocked at how low the turnout, the voter turnout at the municipal election.
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: level is nationally, the average is thirty nine percent.
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah, it's pretty bad.
Christine: That is just sad, sad,
MJ Nabuurs: Well it
Christine: sad, sad.
MJ Nabuurs: and it's pretty bad because we know what the impact is to when you do vote in municipal elections. It carries a lot of weight, more weight than you think, your individual vote. and I know you have some knowledge around that, right?
Christine: Yeah, so I've talked to a lot of people about this. And we all hear that line, I'm just one vote, like my vote doesn't really matter. It's not going to change the world. Well, you would be wrong about that, let me tell
MJ Nabuurs: Mm-hmm.
Christine: you. Okay. Because in a provincial election, those seats are won by five, ten, thousand votes. In federal elections, sometimes they're 30,000, 40,000 votes. But
MJ Nabuurs: Right.
Christine: in a municipal election, we could be talking about two, three, four votes. I mean, when the vote
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. Yeah.
Christine: turnout is so small and you have a counsellor at large mandate going on, people can get elected with, a thousand votes. It's just crazy. so
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah, is.
Christine: let me tell you what happens when you don't show up. And Doug
MJ Nabuurs: Yep.
Christine: Ford is a perfect example of it. So we
MJ Nabuurs: Mm-hmm.
Christine: had the lowest turnout in the last provincial election that gave Doug Ford his unfettered control, right? Unchecked.
MJ Nabuurs: Right.
Christine: 37% of the vote came out. So when
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: you break that out out of all the eligible voters, Doug Ford got Control of the whole shooting match off of 17.5% of the voters. Think about that. Right. That's
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. Yeah. It's such a small representation of of the province, right? Yeah.
Christine: right. And the other thing I want to mention because I just have a hate on for Doug Ford right now. Right now,
MJ Nabuurs: Ha ha ha.
Christine: Ontario has been saddled with the largest debt in its history. So much for the Penny pinch and blah blah blah all that bullshit out of those guys down there. Biggest deficit in history. That's what happens when you don't show up. Okay. So in
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah, yeah.
Christine: a municipal election, I mean, these are your neighbors who are running. Like one
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: young fella, he lives up around the corner from me. I I actually married him and his wife, right? It's a
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: small town. And you you see each other in the grocery stores, you see each other. at different functions, golf tournaments, fundraisers, at community ribbon cuttings we're a port community. we've got the Butter Tart Festival. We've got,
MJ Nabuurs: Mm-hmm.
Christine: all sorts of things going on around Midland. And as I said again, we are dock town. you need to be present and there's a lot of things going on here right now. So that excuse of my vote doesn't make a difference, I ain't buying that bullshit. That
MJ Nabuurs: Well, and now people know. Now people know that it actually does. So it's really good that you're bringing this up. Because it's worth
Christine: well
MJ Nabuurs: I would suggest, if you don't mind, I would say that is something that you should probably say in every interview you have. Because maybe not everybody's gonna catch every interview you do with all the counselors and mayoral candidates, right? But
Christine: Right.
MJ Nabuurs: that is a really important point just to show them just how much influence their one vote. does have, right? And
Christine: Right.
MJ Nabuurs: the other part that I liked about what you said is, you know, the fact that all these candidates and eventually elected officials are your community members. so
Christine: Mm-hmm.
MJ Nabuurs: they have a vested interest in seeing it do well. The, you know, seeing your communities succeed because it's their home too. Right. So like it it's it's a wonderful time to really support and help promote the people that you really want to see do things for your community because They're likely gonna be the ones that are really gung ho to do it, you know.
Christine: Well, you know, I've been giving so much thought now and going through the getting the lists of questions together and everything because
MJ Nabuurs: Mm, mm hmm.
Christine: questions for an incumbent candidate and questions for a neophyte candidate, they are very different, right?
MJ Nabuurs: right. Right. Yeah, that's right.
Christine: one, you already know somebody a little bit. They've been on council for four years. You've seen them around
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: the community. You know how they voted. You hear what they have to say, right? And
MJ Nabuurs: Right, right.
Christine: here's the other thing that I pointed out to some people, stop and think about this last four years. That min that council was elected in a pandemic for
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: the first time that we had. online and telephone voting ever. And yet it had the lowest turnout, lowest voting hist in the history of Midland. and then we had Deadpool Council. I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be crude or rude or disrespectful or anything, but we did have two council members who passed away and one council member who had an incident at council. it was a challenging time. And as if that just wasn't enough. Midland got caught in that really crazy weather incident last winter year and a half ago. And we had the blackout, right? So we had
MJ Nabuurs: yeah. Right, right.
Christine: we had a pandemic, we had Deadpool Council, they tossed out the Midland Bay Landing proposal, which actually is a blessing. And we had that crazy ass thing that happened in our community where literally Midland went dark for like five days. Like it
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. Yeah, which is a lot.
Christine: there were parts the community that were still dark for like 10, days after the blackout.
MJ Nabuurs: That is that's so dangerous, right? Yeah. Yeah.
Christine: Mm-hmm. Yeah. And and to add in, like when I look at, you know, the things that what has been on this council's agenda in those four years, right? And so really kind of bringing that all together and so I can ask some really good questions and use that that interview to help other people understand what I understand, right?
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. Yeah.
Christine: and hear what I'm hearing, right? And it's
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah, it's great.
Christine: you know, just that calm, non-interrupted interview. Like one candidate had suggested to me that maybe because this was going to be such a ginac gigantic effort was to maybe bring three in at a time and and have them all talk. And I went, no, no,
MJ Nabuurs: Mm. No, yeah.
Christine: no. Because we all know that there's always an alpha a dominant in the conversation. You and I, we just arm wrestle for that. But right? Like so
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. That's funny. No, it's awesome. That's great. That's funny.
Christine: and I don't want, somebody who's not as experienced their voice being drowned out. What I want in these interviews is to hear their voice, their authentic
MJ Nabuurs: Mm-hmm.
Christine: story, what they believe in. what they hope for in this community, what skill sets they think they have to bring to the table that's gonna make me vote for them. the
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. And what values they hold, like, you know.
Christine: and there's the values. And then I would like a little diversity in my council. You know? I
MJ Nabuurs: Sure. Absolutely. Yeah.
Christine: in the previous council, the the late deputy mayor, he was indigenous and really well loved in the community. And
MJ Nabuurs: Hmm.
Christine: I think we're missing that element in this election, although I could be wrong. I don't really know everybody's, you know, whatever. Yeah,
MJ Nabuurs: Crowned or whatever, yeah, yeah.
Christine: thank you. and male, female, or however people identify, you know, there's that. And
MJ Nabuurs: Yep.
Christine: then, age. Like I
MJ Nabuurs: Yep, absolutely.
Christine: we need somebody who's older. Because obviously we have an older community. We want to have their lived experience. That's
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: important but at the same time, this is a community of young families and playgrounds. And you know, so you
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. And you know what? It's good that you bring all that up about diversity because I, you know, in the world around us there's a lot of discussion, right? About whether they talk about DEI or whatever. But the reality is the data is overwhelmingly in favor of for like companies or organizations or any sort of political party that the more diversity that you have, whether it be race, age, you know, orientation, whatever, the better off that organization is. They're much more successful, because there's so many amazing experiences to come to help inform their choices and stuff. So you ultimately make better choices. so I just think it's great that that sort of something that you value. I know that about you. And and hopefully people, you know, that that get elected in will be, you know, sort of supportive of that as well, right? Or the voters will be as
Christine: Mm.
MJ Nabuurs: well. Of course, you know, you have to obviously you're not choosing just solely on the color of someone's skin or whatever, but just to be completely open to see the merits of every candidate, regardless of all of those things. And then you can make the best
Christine: Mm-hmm.
MJ Nabuurs: the best choice for your community. Yeah.
Christine: Yeah. And so it's just being a really I think it's a really important to hear that voice and, have those conversations. And I do have a script, but you know us, MJ. We like we're
MJ Nabuurs: Mm-hmm.
Christine: so organic in our conversations that sometimes
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: somebody gives you a response that kind of puts you onto another tumble of a discussion, right? My ch
MJ Nabuurs: Well, that's why we often call them conversations and not interviews. Right? Yeah.
Christine: Exactly. Thank you. Yes. They're they're far more authentic. And I think you see much more of the person in that, right? And
MJ Nabuurs: Right.
Christine: and I just really, really need to remind my community why it's so important to show up. people are like, enough with this voting, you know, like nagging at me. Cause I ask everybody right now, when they
MJ Nabuurs: Mm-hmm.
Christine: Bitch and complain about the community. The first question out of my mouth is, Did you vote? Because
MJ Nabuurs: Mm-hmm.
Christine: if you didn't vote, you can shut your pie hole, take a seat, and listen. Because the rest of us have to suffer with the fallout of your not showing up. Right? So,
MJ Nabuurs: Right. Yeah. Yep.
Christine: when I was younger, MJ, well, Hold on, before I get into that, I just want to say this. Midland has gone again to an all online telephone voting system, right? And
MJ Nabuurs: Mm. Mm-hmm.
Christine: I've heard people complaining about, the old school way. And you and I talked about this before. Maybe you could talk about what for some people voting in an election was about as well.
MJ Nabuurs: So, I'm not sure like what is it specifically that you mean?
Christine: About the human contact, the socialization,
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah, people I like I even remember bringing each of my kids or, you know, when they became old enough to vote. It was a really cool thing to be walking into a building that's all about the election. You walk in and I remember in both cases for my older two when the staff working there learned that it was their first time voting, they were like clapping for them once they did. Like there's a real, you know, it's the same as wanting to read your paper books instead of on your Kindle or something, right? It's that tangible type thing. And it it is a community event. A lot of volunteers are there working, you know, at the ballot boxes. So it's very normal for humans to, you know, appreciate that kind of thing. I think nowadays having it online and via the telephone, although you lose the tangible piece, which I get, the benefits are it is so much more accessible to to everybody who who is eligible to vote. Whether it's that you happen to feel sick that day, the day that you were planning to go, you could do it from home, whether you work shift work, whether you've got children or you know, you don't have caregivers for an elderly you know, for an elderly loved one that you care for children whether you're elderly or disabled or whatever, like there's it just makes it more possible for more people to vote. And because I can understand if it was online only. You know, because that can be intimidating to a lot of people who don't have access to laptops, et cetera, or just, you know, are tech scared, you know, or just don't have the knowledge. but the phone, you know, most people can still operate a phone and press buttons if they need to. So I think although you lose that little h human piece, I think the fact that more people can actually access it now is a really great thing.
Christine: So what Midlanders need to know is that they will get, they need to watch their mail in September, which is what we're rolling into right now.
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: And they will receive in the post from the town of Midland, just like they get their tax bill and they get their water
MJ Nabuurs: right.
Christine: bill, they're gonna get another one and it's gonna have their V O L
MJ Nabuurs: Voter instruction letter or something? Is that it? Yeah.
Christine: number something it's a voter instruction number, but they get a pin number.
MJ Nabuurs: Right. Yeah, okay.
Christine: That's assigned to them So
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: they just simply go online and you start by entering in your PIN number. And that immediately it's an identifier. And we work on counsellor at large. We're not
MJ Nabuurs: Mm-hmm.
Christine: by ward. Midland is approaching about eighteen thousand people. We have seven counselors at large deputy mayors my god even i'm getting confused now yeah i'm feeling overwhelmed
MJ Nabuurs: Now you you just got so many.
Christine: we have a deputy mayor and seven counsellor at large i know that the counsellor at large list is 16 candidates
MJ Nabuurs: Mm.
Christine: five of them are incumbents and two of them have moved into running for deputy mayor.
MJ Nabuurs: okay.
Christine: yeah. So that means there's, in my opinion, two seats in play, because they're vacant, right?
MJ Nabuurs: Mm.
Christine: And cause incumbents usually have the edge. People know them and people go with what they know. And if they have a track record.
MJ Nabuurs: Right. Right, right. It's easier than looking into anybody else. Some people, right? That's their easy vote, whether it whether it's informed
Christine: There there is there is
MJ Nabuurs: or not, right?
Christine: so, it's a matter of click, click, click. And so when people natter at me about voting online, I have to remind them, did you order DoorDash recently?
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. Right? Yeah.
Christine: Did you pay a bill? Have you been gambling online?
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: Probably get a big fat yes for that one. So don't totally like have you submitted your income tax?
MJ Nabuurs: Mm-hmm. Have you renewed your driver's license online? Yeah. is the way of things, yeah. Yeah. Like, and you know what? For people who don't do a lot of that, I can understand it's, you know, it's a little scary because you hear about, you know, electronic theft and things, right? But you know, these these types of things, government-related things, typically have good checks and balances. Plus,
Christine: Mm.
MJ Nabuurs: I noticed in the information that you shared with me, Christine, there is voter assistance. available to people who either don't have access to an internet connection, perhaps don't want to use it, or access to a phone. So they can, you know, it says if you require registration updates even, an in-person help center will run at municipal offices from October 13th to October 26th. So people can get help if they're not comfortable doing those, the phone or the online thing on their own, which is really great, right?
Christine: Or you can do what I did with my seniors who lived on either side of me in the last election was
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: basically I went over to their house with a laptop and I hooked them up. Right. I showed them how it worked and they were like, Wow, that's so easy, right?
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah, which is awesome, you know? And yeah. it is. Yeah, once you know, right? Yeah, yeah. if you don't mind me adding, I something that we've talked about before I know is obviously we talk all the time about how important it is for people to get out and vote. And to me, voting is not the last step, is it? It's to me it's the first step.
Christine: First step.
MJ Nabuurs: And having your voice heard. in hopefully being represented by who your choices were. and if not and or whether they were or not, it's the first step in you having kind of a really quite a right to hold them accountable to what they promised they would try to do or, you know, to commend them for the great things they are doing. So voting doesn't just like, you know what, yay, you got in. We have a responsibility too, when you can and and and in whatever way you can to help those people meet the things that they promised. Cause they need, you know, they're not getting paid trillions of dollars. We know that a lot of people have a hard time. with the negative comments, particularly online, when it can get quite vitriolic and sometimes dangerous for them. So, you know, let's let's
Christine: Yeah, yeah, well we know that.
MJ Nabuurs: vote for the people you enjoy and then give them support throughout their tenure in that role so that they
Christine: Mm, mm.
MJ Nabuurs: have the best chance of doing for you what they really wanted to do.
Christine: Yeah, because if they're successful, we're successful as a community collectively. And sometimes
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. Exactly.
Christine: we forget that, right? And it and this isn't about a gotcha thing, you know. That's another
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: thing. some people thought I was gonna use this like a gotcha thing. And I'm like, yeah, no, not doing that. And the other thing was so funny, I got an email from one person who asked me if I was what did they say? are you a local influencer? And I laughed when I read that and I wrote
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. Yeah.
Christine: back and I went, No, I ain't no local influencer. I'm a goddamn global influencer, right? I'm sorry. I should take that back. That that wasn't a very nice way. I'm just a global influencer. Cause
MJ Nabuurs: That yeah.
Christine: I know you get really peed off at me when I use the G D or the J C
MJ Nabuurs: Ha ha
Christine: stuff, right?
MJ Nabuurs: No, that's not it. That's not why. No, that's not why I know. Yeah.
Christine: No, I'm just t teasing, but out of respect, it was funny because now all of a sudden I'm getting tons of messages and I've had a flurry of friend requests from Midland. Yes,
MJ Nabuurs: they w yeah, they're Good.
Christine: I put a post up on Facebook yesterday
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: saying that I was gonna do this. And The next thing you know, like scuttle, scuttle, scuttle, scuttle. And and then the deputy mayor, who has her interview booked in
MJ Nabuurs: Good.
Christine: a couple of days, reached out and then she asked, me, Can you make this post shareable? Which means I have to make it public. And you know, my god, the flying monkeys.
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah. yeah. Woo. All right. You just make it public you can make it just public for a bit and then you can shut it down if you right?
Christine: Yeah, the the flying monkeys are coming. You know that, MJ.
MJ Nabuurs: But you know what's important to know for your listeners too, and I'll say it on your behalf if you don't mind, is look, you've probably already noticed that we're not shy about sharing our opinions or thoughts on things. and in our other podcast episodes, we certainly don't shy away from, you know, saying what we find important, whether it's in politics or in the world around us. But I know that these particular, like you said, it's not a moment like a gotcha moment type interview or conversation that you're setting up. It's a chance, and this is something that's compelled us from the start, which is it's just a chance for us who have found a way to access people that the average person is having trouble accessing and sharing what we learn from them with everybody who's interested in hearing about it. So in this case,
Christine: Right.
MJ Nabuurs: you're going to learn as much as you can about this candidate in 30 minutes, and it's not So you can spout off your political stances. You're fully there for that person. This is their time to share you, right? And you're gonna guide the conversation, obviously, with your questions and whatever. but it's so like it's such a community service for you to be doing this. I don't know if people realize it's not it takes a lot of time to do this kind of thing. And if you get everybody, that's however many 30-minute interviews, plus editing, you know, whatever, just to get it published and up online, like.
Christine: Twenty, yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Post production, right?
MJ Nabuurs: It takes some time so and the and the preparation. So I think it's fabulous. I think it's supremely generous of your time. It comes from
Christine: Thank you.
MJ Nabuurs: a place of wanting your community to be better and to be as informed as they can be going into the vote. And I really hope and I'm looking forward to it making a really positive difference and seeing the voting numbers be a lot higher this year because of it. I think if people really embrace it, I think you'll do a lot of good for your community. I'm excited.
Christine: Thank you. I I wanna quickly share a story because we're gonna wind this up in a minute because we're sticking hard and fast to that 30 minute roll. There's
MJ Nabuurs: Okay. Okay.
Christine: a reason why I'm so passionate about voting, and I'm gonna tell you why. So when I was younger I and I worked in community mental health and addictions, I worked with a woman for a couple of years. She was Filipino, she was an immigrant to Canada. And she was getting to vote in her very first election as a Canadian, and she talked nonstop, like ad nauseum about voting, voting, voting, and this and that,
MJ Nabuurs: No.
Christine: even talking about I'm picking out my voting outfit. And I was just like, my gosh, you know. Anyway,
MJ Nabuurs: Aww it's awesome though. Yeah.
Christine: I was kind of like, you know, I was I guess, you know, I get that look on my face, like, here we go again. And then she said,
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah.
Christine: I want to tell you something. Christine, she said, this will be the very first election that I've ever voted in. She said, I lived in the Philippines under the Marcos regime. This will be the very first election that I'll ever vote in that I haven't had an AK forty seven pointed at me watching me while I vote. I just got hair stand up on the back of my neck. Think about that. And
MJ Nabuurs: Yeah, just everybody just sit for a second with that. Like we have never been under that kind of threat or coercion to vote a certain way. That's yeah, that's a reality none of us well, those who are voting here now at least, experience now and It makes it really hard to understand anybody's excuse for not voting, doesn't it?
Christine: Yeah, and it changed it changed the trajectory for me. And I never, ever, ever missed an opportunity to vote at any level of government after that. So on that note, you know, I want to thank you for joining me in this inaugural episode and introducing The ReSisters to my hometown. I don't know if that's a good thing yet. I told you about the
MJ Nabuurs: Whoop whoop. Well we were in a mi But we were in an article in Midland way back about our origins, you remember? Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
Christine: yeah. Yeah, totally, right? Anyway, I just want to say thank you for joining us and to our listeners joining us here in our "No Ostriching Here." studio. and we hope that the conversations help you make an informed voting decision, but more importantly, that you show up. And we'll catch you on the flip side.
