The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
It's been a decade since Rod Murphy was MP for the Churchill Riding, but he's still stepping up to bat for Northern Manitoba. Since 2000, Murphy, 57, has served as a policy advisor to Manitoba Transportation and Government Services. Essentially, he advises the provincial government on a host of northern issues. "I enjoy it," said the retired teacher, who lives outside Thompson. "I'm involved in the political end of things without the responsibility of being in Parliament and being in Ottawa all the time." With all the travel and listening to concerns, Murphy's current job isn't totally unlike the MP position he held in the local riding for 14 years. While the NDP member admits going through "withdrawal pains" after his 1993 defeat at the hands of Liberal Elijah Harper, he now believes the time was right to move on. "The Churchill Riding is a very big riding that requires a lot of traveling," he said. "During my years as MP, I was on the road for about one full week out of every six. I had to be. There were over 80 communities in the riding, and 36 of them didn't' have roads. It meant a lot of time away from family. My two sons remind me of that every so often, usually on their birthdays." But the busy road schedule Ñ something other area politicians have lamented Ñ didn't stop Murphy from falling in love with his occupation. "I'm glad I had the opportunity to be MP and I'm grateful to the people of Flin Flon and the Churchill Riding for giving me that opportunity," he said. "I think our riding always needs someone who is going to speak up for the area. It's a riding that requires a lot of work." See 'Variety' P.# Con't from P.# "We have a variety of issues, from aboriginal issues to mining to Tolko, but it's a riding that, if you're really interested in it, you're never going to be bored." Flin Flon, the second largest community in his riding behind Thompson, still holds a special place in the Winnipeg native's heart. "What I really liked about Flin Flon was that even though it was my second-biggest community, it always felt like a small town and people were always friendly," he commented. "During about the first eight years of my time as MP, we didn't have money to stay in hotels, so I was always staying in people's homes, and I always felt welcome in Flin Flon." Murphy's advisory role brings him to Flin Flon a handful of times each year, helping him to stay up-to-date on community developments, including one he sees as a definite plus Ñ the Flintoba Shopping Centre. "I think I know that some small businesses may have trouble competing with the Wal-Marts and Canadian Tires of this world," he said. "On the other hand, if they help bring business into the community, it helps everybody in the long run." The former MP is also pleased with the enhancement made to Highway 10A in 2000, an upgrade he believes the NDP deserves ample credit for. "The very fact that the NDP government has committed 25 per cent of the annual construction budget to the North means that projects like Highway 10A can be done," he said. "You wouldn't have got that work done without that commitment." Murphy's own commitment to the New Democratic Party has stood strong for decades, but he is now looking at retiring in the near future. "I had told the Premier that I was retiring in June, which was obviously a lie because this is now October," he said. "I think I'll stay around for most of the winter." After a bustling career, Murphy, who moved to Thompson to teach in 1970, said that writing projects and time with his family will be sufficient to keep him busy after politics. Although he left the North for a few years after his defeat a decade ago, Murphy said he is staying put near Thompson to enjoy his golden years. When asked if northerners might expect to see his name on their MP ballots once more, Murphy refused to leave the door open even a crack. "I enjoyed my time as MP, but in reality, 14 years on the road is a long time," he said. "I just can't see myself ever doing it again."
