Former mayor’s prominent supporters standing by their man By: Kevin Rollason Posted: 5:57 PM CDT Thursday, Sep. 29, 2022

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This article was published 28/09/2022 (818 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Mayoral candidate Glen Murray’s strongest supporters have not been swayed by allegations of sexual harassment against him in a former job.

During the last few months, Murray has received endorsements from several prominent individuals, including Asper Foundation president Gail Asper and community activist Sel Burrows. Numerous unions and organizations, including the Winnipeg Labour Council and the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg, have also thrown their support behind the city’s former mayor.

Not only do they still support Murray, several were at his campaign headquarters Thursday afternoon to hear his public response to allegations of sexual harassment and unprofessional behaviour during his time as executive director at the Calgary-based Pembina Institute think tank.

“We are still with Glen Murray and stronger than ever now,” Tom Bilous, president of the firefighter’s union, said shortly after Murray read a statement flatly denying the sexual harassment accusations but apologizing for causing “stress or tension” his management approach caused.

“We support him 100 per cent. We’ve been involved in politics for a long time and it’s no surprise to see lowbrow journalism like this just weeks before (election) day.”

Bilous said the only people who might be convinced not to vote for Murray are the people who wouldn’t have voted for him anyway.

“What was put out by the CBC is not an accurate picture of the Glen Murray we know and the Glen Murray we have worked with for 20 years,” he said.

“He is an empathetic man of the people.”

Asper said she has worked with Murray for more than two decades and has never seen any sign of the behaviour alleged in the story.

“I personally only know him as respectful and kind,” she said. “I’m very much supporting Glen.

“I think anyone in politics can become a target — that’s why I, frankly, wouldn’t run. I go by Glen’s track record and I think he has the best one.”

Burrows said he cut short a meeting to go to the press conference to show his support for Murray.

“I back him for mayor because the malaise the city is in needs his strength and his vision,” he said.

“He was here for rapid transit, the human rights museum, and even… the new arena. To me, it’s how do you get the city back being Winnipeg again, and I support him.”

Melissa Dvorak, the labour council’s president, said the umbrella organization representing numerous unions decided to endorse Murray’s campaign for mayor only after holding many meetings with him and asking a lot of questions.

“We will be following up with him (about the allegations),” Dvorak said.

“We thought Glen offered a partnership with labour. From having an open door with labour, somebody who will work with us. When he was mayor, other unions said Glen was very open and Glen said that would happen again.

“There’s no talk at this point (that) we will un-endorse him.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca