Canada and US Working Together

David Martin: This is the good government show.

Gino Moretti: Mayors are a good government because we have no we have no boundaries. We have no polit political time. We’re there to work for the people, with the people.

It is easier for us because for us it’s about the people. It’s about to ensure we have job, we have water and we have everything a person needs to survive. Too often we’re so much in a rush to move to the next obstacle. We need to have a solid pace.

It’s one of the Great Lakes contaminant in one spot. It affects two nations, eight states, two province.

There’s going to be change. But change is good. Scary. But you have to accept change. It’s part of a day to day life. If you want to be in a little, then you have nothing. If you want to be in the sandbox, you have no sand. You have to get out of that. You have to expend work together.

David Martin: And we’re going international. On this episode, when I talked with Gino Moretti, mayor of Saint, an asset in Quebec, Canada, his city on the Saint Lawrence River is about ten miles from the US and the state of New York. Welcome to the good government show. I’m Dave Martin. Canada is our closest neighbor and ally. The US and Canada have the longest border in the world, most of it with no military presence.

There are, of course, checkpoints, but Canada is most definitely a good neighbor. Just watch Saturday Night Live or listen to Neil Young or watch a hockey game. Our two countries are tied together in many ways. As tariffs and trade wars currently dominate the headlines, it’s important to listen to lots of voices on this show. I heard from genome already in both English and French.

Don’t worry, there’s a translation. My French as well. Not much beyond or even coat to wine anyway, Mr. Lemaire, how’s that for French? He is one of the co-chairs of something called the Great Lakes City Initiative. This is a combined U.S. Canadian group that works to preserve and protect the two country region. The goal is to keep the water clean and protect the joint economies of both nations.

The mayor has recently been speaking out about the impacts of proposed and recently enacted tariffs, saying will have a disastrous effect on the region, on the people, on jobs and the joint economies of both the U.S. and Canada. We talked about some of the programs for cities along the Great Lakes on both sides of the border. In all its good government between U.S. and Canadian cities.

We recorded this interview in Washington, D.C., on the eve of the inaugural of the new president. U.S. Canadian relations have an improved. But when you listen to China talk, you realize that the U.S. and Canada share more than a border. In some lakes. Our countries are connected in so many ways. Now more than ever, it’s important to have these conversations and listen to what’s going on with our closest neighbor.

So coming up, Monsieur le Maire, Gino Moretti.

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Welcome to the Good Government show. I have our first international guest. Very excited to have our first international guest, mayor Jean Moretti of Saint and Asset Canada was.

Gino Moretti: Your gravitas, Michelle. My name is Gino Moretti and le the Saint Denis de la province de Québec to be Canada. Mayor of Saint Vincent, Province of Quebec, in Canada. I am your northern brother. My closest neighbor in the south is Covington, New York.

David Martin: How far away is that?

Gino Moretti: Oh, about ten miles. I’m a border village, but I’m also. I have a privilege and honor of being Nicole, president of the Great Lakes in the Saint Lawrence, an initiative which represent over 260 municipality representing 40 million people. Two province Quebec in Ontario and eight states around the Great Lakes. Working together with indigenous people to make sure we have safe drinking water, we have a sustainable economy and protecting our waterways.

Since we have 20% of the world’s water, and the North America is to work together, as you quite know, the mayors have no boundaries. And that is why. That’s why. Mayor.

David Martin: Yeah.

Gino Moretti: Where we go directly to get the source done, we work together. We do not have all the bureaucracy. We need to get things done. Why? Without water, there is no life. Sure. And the Great Lakes City Initiative allows us to do that together. Working cooperatively and also asking provincial and state government and also both federal, the importance of investing, because $1 spent in the Great Lakes in Saint Lawrence is $3 in economy for each municipality.

If the great lake in Saint Lawrence was a country, it would be North America. Third biggest exchange economy Mexico, China and the Great Lakes. Why? Because we create jobs for United States and in Canada we share a common goal. We have the longest boundary, right? Border allows us to work together freely on the city. And we have the saying.

David Martin: So I want to go back to something you just mentioned. This is the the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence City and City initiative. This brings together both Canadian and American states, cities, mayors, voters.

Gino Moretti: Together, mayors, strictly mayors and elected official and also city staff to work together.

David Martin: And do you all work together?

Gino Moretti: Yes. Yeah, yeah, we have differences, sure. But what is a great thing? By being a co-chair, I am the co-chair representing Canada.

David Martin: Right.

Gino Moretti: And the mayor of so won again Wisconsin.

David Martin: Right.

Gino Moretti: Was exactly. Sorry.

David Martin: That’s all right.

Gino Moretti: But he is my friend.

David Martin: We should say it in French if you like.

Gino Moretti: It would be easier. Go ahead as well. Again, the Wisconsin, it would be easy. It is easier for us because for us it’s about the people. It’s about to ensure we have job, we have water and we have everything a person needs to survive. S in economy bass, the Great Lakes.

David Martin: This sounds very much like good government.

Gino Moretti: Well, mayors are a good governments because we have no we have no boundaries. We have no political tie. We’re there to work for the people, with the people. And we’re also there in dangerous people to make sure because they know the dangerous people on the old way, why Mother Nature looked after us, but we have to look after them by working together, by setting our priority.

This year. Is the economy working on the economy? Right. And is to make sure we promoted because every single job we can keep it North America, Canada and United States both win.

David Martin: So I live in New York City. I’m an American. You are. As I said, you’re our first international guest from Canada. Do you mostly align? Are there differences between, you know, the directives and the goals of the American mayors and then the Canadian mayors? I mean, how how does that work? You know, which.

Gino Moretti: Countries do you only think we have the differences? Is the process. The process is slightly different. I’m sometimes I’m a bit jealous of my my American counterpart. How fast.

David Martin: Why is it that.

Gino Moretti: Fast a governor can sustain money directly to help or purchase certain equipment in Quebec? Is bit more bureaucracy needed. So I have to justify the new bureaucracies. Exactly. And so in the process. But however, my peers in the United States are kind of jealous of us because there’s certain things we can go get done faster.

David Martin: Like what?

Gino Moretti: I’m getting things done about the shoreline erosion protection shoreline. Get it done faster, because we know if we protect the shoreline, it produces reduce damage to the house and to the resident along the Saint Lawrence or the Great Lakes. Another one. The problem United States have led and your water line. Yep. 30 years ago we eliminated that. We still have a small number, but we have taken the Canadian model.

Talk to our colleagues in United States and how to give a tax break to housing to be able to change the lead pipe to a free change so they don’t have land in the home we receive. So we share the process.

David Martin: When you look at America and you look at the and you talk to America’s mayors, there must be a few things that you just like, look at them and go, you’re not getting it. What are those things?

Gino Moretti: No, we don’t have that as we don’t know. And the reason that because we’re able to talk and sit, discuss, listen, reflect and become and harmonize and know direction once we’ve given the orientation.

David Martin: This sounds like good government.

Gino Moretti: It’s good governance. You’re absolutely right. Yeah. But to act.

David Martin: Out of the good governance you.

Gino Moretti: Talk to all too often, we’re so much in a rush to move to the next obstacle. We need to have a solid pace. That’s why water has no boundary. If if one of the greatly is contaminated in one spot, it affects two nations, eight states, two province. By working together, is the mayor getting done taking all water or dockyard, turning them into housing, refrigeration, not waste and hangars there may not be reused.

Utilize them as a for doing housing. The answers are in front of us. As mayors, we have a voice of the people are of our citizen, and we’re able to bring their concern about the Great Lakes in the same knowledge to our governors or Premier, and able to move forward to the federal level.

David Martin: So I’m going back to the 60s now because I’m old. I like white, right? Okay. Well, welcome. Lake Erie caught fire. Yeah. Is all of that eliminated? Is it. Where is what’s the status of Lake Erie today?

Gino Moretti: Lake Erie is a lot more healthier in diversity than it was in 1960. Why? It was a combination of mayor science and.

David Martin: This organization around that.

Gino Moretti: No, I was not the.

David Martin: Associate.

Gino Moretti: With dissociation created and 22 years ago, the mayor of Chicago, Mike Daley, and the mayor of Toronto, Mike Miller, two mayors, great friend, say we cannot advise provincial or state level. We as mayor need to be active. And they created the city initiative. And that perspective and and it has grown. Our model is also created the Mississippi River city Initiative.

Identical.

David Martin: Okay.

Gino Moretti: Because Canadian travels on the Great Lakes are green trout all the way down to Louisiana for the economy of the United States, or vice versa. When the Mississippi was dry. Less water. How do we focus? It’s on the economy based. We have to help each other to make sure we don’t lose jobs.

David Martin: How many people in Canada and the US and or, get their freshwater from the 40 million, 40 million, 40 million? What? Do you know what that region is?

Gino Moretti: The most popular region is the big city. First of all, as a sense, I live in a rural community. Very, very small. Most Montreal takes the water from the Saint Lawrence. Quebec City takes water from the Saint Lawrence and other parts. I’m.

David Martin: I go to.

Gino Moretti: Chicago, destroyed, West, Milwaukee and other. There’s another there’s a small city is name is it’s a French isn’t

David Martin: Said in French.

Gino Moretti: No, no, I’m never I can’t remember. It’s an Indian name, but it’s also. Oh, it’s a northern part of Illinois. And it it was condemned. So city initiated, was able to work with Noah, work with all the organization scientifically, academically to find solution.

David Martin: So there’s a lot it’s, you know, we refer to as the Rust Belt.

Gino Moretti: Not it’s not the green corridor.

David Martin: The green corridor.

Gino Moretti: You’re absolutely right. That was in 1960 because you called the I told you. Oh, yeah. Canada, United States, Detroit. Great partnership. International bridge, great relationship works together. And the crossing process we the city initiative, we’re allowed to talk to mayors, showed them the importance, but also listen to the industry because industry creates employment for citizen. We now turn to a green corridor.

Blue economy, green corridor. You can look green as environment or you could green as money interest. It’s economy based.

David Martin: You look at a city like Gary, Indiana, for example, steel city, Rust Belt city, fallen on hard times economically is not anywhere near the city that it used to be. And they have all these, you know, decaying rust, you know, rusted out, decaying factories. What are we doing for places like that?

Gino Moretti: Hamilton, Ontario has the same problem. Saint Catherine, Canada has the same problem. And that’s why the mayor, Matt Simcoe, the mayor of Saint Catherine, now will become a hydrogen plant for the ships.

David Martin: Okay.

Gino Moretti: We’re now sharing the technology between two countries. Why? Because mayors, we have no political boundaries. We share. We share the best practice.

David Martin: Yeah.

Gino Moretti: We modify, tweak it, but we get the result done. Make sure we have clean, safe water. What’s sustainable economy for the future, for the next generation?

David Martin: This all sounds like very good government. How often do you meet? How often do you actually.

Gino Moretti: The executive meet every month.

David Martin: Okay.

Gino Moretti: We we have an annual meeting, but every two months, we have a meeting with all the mayors involved or their staff member or representative who give full measure. We also linked up with certain University, University of Chicago, Loyola University, Queen University, McGill, upstate New York technical College. We work do you do in the academia? Because if we don’t give funding to the academic world, University and colleges do the research.

They need to give the short amount. But is the mayor needs to have an active voice to make sure those university, those industry gets the funding necessary to change your way of thinking. I’m not saying change the way we do stuff. We can work it better, faster, more efficient. Not losing jobs or creating jobs for North America.

David Martin: And I have to ask this question, please. Sorry, but the the the presidential inaugural is tomorrow. Is Canada looking forward to being the 51st state?

Gino Moretti: You know, you know, it’s just like someone will say, you know what my grandfather fought in the Civil War.

David Martin: Yes.

Gino Moretti: My uncle, we’re part of United States Military Marine. My great uncle, Vice-Admiral Jemal, was in the US Navy.

David Martin: All right.

Gino Moretti: For us as a border town, it doesn’t really matter why we have the same culture. Okay? What defines us is the attitude of the change was during the War of 1812, I separated.

David Martin: That’s correct.

Gino Moretti: We did invade. We did succeed. But it’s not about that. It’s to work together. We can have different points of view on certain things. If you sit at a table, listen, speak when you need to speak and and reflect what has been said, but come to a common goal. I am very has.

David Martin: That hard.

Gino Moretti: It it depends on the words you use. I am looking for it for demonstration. President like to Trump he will do changes as any president of the United States or as any premier in Canada, because we’re going to an election very similar. Yeah, there’s going to be change. But change is good. Scary. But you have to accept change.

It’s part of a day to day life. If you want to be in a title, then you have nothing. If you want to be in the sandbox, you have no sand. You have to get out of that. You have to expand, work together. There is more to gain. North America is a great continent. Canada and the United States longest undefended border in the world.

We have fought together. I have been as a veteran, I have been I had the honor and privilege to be a doctor in the United States Army Hall of Fame. Really? I have work with the fifth and third group. I have deployed with the American 101st. I’ve been to Fort Bragg, Fort Hood, Fort Sill in Oklahoma. What the king is, we have no boundary.

Because. Why? Because once you deploy. I know that Canadian. I know that us, soldier.

David Martin: We’re all in this together.

Gino Moretti: Because the enemy does not choose what nationality you are for when you become together as one united economy trade, it works together.

David Martin: What’s the biggest difference you see between the attitude of the American, government leaders and the Canadian government leaders?

Gino Moretti: I think I think that’s a very good question. To answer is what is the attitude is what is the perspective of the individual? If you know your history, let’s let’s not make the same mistake twice. Both history has been written together. And there’s a lot of great leaders on both sides. Define a history politician. The most challenges this to be reelected and sometime they should put more energy.

And finally, like mayor does need to solve the problem today. It’s not going to solve tomorrow. It’s going to take time is to be patient, not put obstacle but work together. And and that is identical to both nations.

David Martin: So tell me a little bit about your city, Santana said. How long you’ve been mayor?

Gino Moretti: I’ve been mayor for eight years.

David Martin: Eight years. How’s it going?

Gino Moretti: Very good, very good, very good. A small rural community, mostly a 92% farming community.

David Martin: What’s the biggest issue you face there, Mr. Mayor?

Gino Moretti: Water?

David Martin: Sure. La mayor.

Gino Moretti: Lima. Higher erosion. Water erosion of the Saint Lawrence does less ice. It does has an impact less fish in. Not unable to go ice fishing in the winter because there’s no ice. Less fish on the Great Lakes.

David Martin: Ice fish.

Gino Moretti: Yeah. It’s great. It’s solitude. Okay. And it’s, Anyway, you have to try to live it.

David Martin: I guess you’re right, you know?

Gino Moretti: But but that’s that’s my challenge. Because 80% of my population lives on the Saint Lawrence Seaway with the erosion, what the rising level does create flooding. And that is a major concerns I have.

David Martin: All right. So we have a good government show questionnaire and we’re going to come to that right after this.

Once you wrap up this episode of The Good Government Show, give a listen to our friends over at Good News for lefties. This daily podcast highlights news stories that show there’s more good news out there. Other people in government are really trying to do the right thing. That’s good news for lefties. Listen, we’re listening now. So the good government show a questioner.

Now I have to tell you that this is is I’ve never I’ve never given this to someone from Canada or anywhere else outside of the U.S, but I think most of it is applicable. We may have to make some changes as we go through. I’m sure the mayor, for the last eight years to find good government.

Gino Moretti: Good governance is not to get involved in the administrative good governance to give orientation objective. If the if the staff are able to achieve that objective. You’ve done a great job. If the staff has not achieved the objective, maybe the governance did not give enough financial resource, human resource or economy based object, or to ambition for the mayor’s or the elected official.

That’s what good governance is all about. Orientation. And let the staff, the staff know what needs to get done. Give them the tools, but also give them the training necessary. If you went to school is you and I back in the 70s, things has evolved. Yes, continuous education formation is the key to success. Learn new technology. Don’t be afraid to learn future things.

David Martin: Are you a social media guy?

Gino Moretti: No I’m not.

David Martin: But you have staff that are.

Gino Moretti: Yes. Yes. Absolutely right. You’re right. I have people that had that. But my son’s better knowledge than I am.

David Martin: Is that. That’s why I call my daughter Rich.

Gino Moretti: And I do that. My son. I made him mistake since,

David Martin: So other than being reelected, how do you judge your success? How do you know if you’re doing a good job?

Gino Moretti: It’s a very good question. How do you do a good job is when the people tell you is when you have city hall meetings, people come and discuss what’s good, what’s not. Their job as mayors is to facilitate problems, is to fill a facility to come to a common solution. That’s what I know. I’m doing a great job.

When people see you on the street, they wave your hand or when you sit down, have a coffee with them and discuss what’s bothering them or even knocking at the door. What can we do better? It’s always keep an active ear to the population.

David Martin: So you’re out in the community, I gather small, a small city. Yes, yes. I’m sure everybody knows. Everybody already does. Everybody’s got your phone number all big time.

Gino Moretti: But but that’s good. People can come and visit me at my house. Which do you do or do you visit me at City Hall? Depending on the polls.

David Martin: Knock on your door. Go. Mr. Lavelle. Yes, it’s a question. Yes they do.

Gino Moretti: Yeah. Especially when they when they don’t understand certain things. And maybe they’re too shy to ask in public. I have no problem with that. Is, is because I work for them and with them.

David Martin: If the people that you serve and who are knocking on your door, if they’re not getting the government that they want, if they don’t think they’re getting good government, how should they hold you accountable? What should they make you do?

Gino Moretti: We have an election in the province of Quebec every four years.

David Martin: Okay.

Gino Moretti: And that’s the mayor and a council automatically for it’s a four year term. So our this year and on the 1st of October will be, it will be our last public meeting as mayor. Then we go into an election 45 days and get a new elected mayor.

David Martin: It’s just 45 days.

Gino Moretti: 45 days. That’s one.

David Martin: Of the things you might be better at that us because it’s.

Gino Moretti: It’s more cost effective.

David Martin: Yeah.

Gino Moretti: And it gives time, people chance to be more active in it. Because if you take too long, people lose interest. They have other priorities in their home, or the welfare of the well-being, or the mother’s sick, or the parents or the children. So we say 45 days is long enough to get your message out. Be, be. Walk on a fast paced and connect with people.

David Martin: Do you look at what we’re doing in the United States and have these two and three year elections look at them and go, what are these Americans thinking?

Gino Moretti: You have a system that’s different. Yes. And it works for United States. Democracy works. You have your Constitution.

David Martin: It works.

Gino Moretti: You most most U.S. and older amendment, Fifth Amendment is not to speak. I know because I taught at us at the Sergeant Major’s Academy. Yes.

David Martin: I saw you were a sergeant major.

Gino Moretti: Yes. Army. Sorry. I was the army sergeant in Canada, but I did my Sergeant Major’s Academy in El Paso, or Sergeant Major’s Academy. Okay. So one of the thing is, is to understand and that’s where the great thing it works for you. You vote for a party in Canada. We vote for the person to represent us who represents a party so little different.

David Martin: If people don’t think that the government is is working for them, what should they do?

Gino Moretti: Come to the meetings. Come to the public meetings. That’s the first thing publics, you know, we have public consultation makes your voice heard. It’s easy to criticize a common person or fill out a ballot. Fill out a note. Most municipality in cal United States, you could put a no good recommendation box or put something in. The mayors wants to know your feedback as a request to meet with the mayors.

I have that every Tuesday morning from 8:00 to 1:00. I meet citizen. You do and and it’s open for them. It is their time to come and meet with me.

David Martin: Do they come? Yes. Yeah. Are you every Tuesday is. Does your plate full?

Gino Moretti: You’re not even 204, I must say. But some when you first start that is. Yeah. But as as the population gain confidence, there’s less.

David Martin: People who.

Gino Moretti: Do come and see you as something because they have an issue with that neighbor. And I always say, you know, good neighbor, start with yourself and talk with your neighbor.

David Martin: You’ve been, Mr. Mayor, for the last, eight years. Did you have a, elected office before that? No, no, this is it.

Gino Moretti: This is I jumped in, and the reason why my municipality wasn’t going to a deficit. Yeah, and the citizen, I’m a I’m a first responder and a citizen. Say, what’s your military background? We see you as a mayor. So I represent myself and I. And actually, there was three of us running for mayor. Yeah. And I ran as independent.

I thought a small community needed people to. About the people? For the people.

David Martin: What were you doing before that? What was your background in military?

Gino Moretti: Yeah, yeah.

David Martin: I retired.

Gino Moretti: I retire in 2012, a first responder and in 2017.

David Martin: First responder. What were you doing? Firefighter okay.

Gino Moretti: Yeah. Search and rescue. So I had to keep active. Yeah. And, people came to me, you know, there’s an election coming up the last. Nothing against them. They were not working for the people, the working for their own individual goal. And the citizens approached me to say, put your name in the ballot, and that’s what I did.

David Martin: So now you’ve been in government for for eight years. What would you like people to as a now as a government insider, which you are, and especially through your work with the Great Lakes Saint Loris city Initiative, what would you like people to know about government?

Gino Moretti: You know, get involved. It’s easy to criticize. And I’m not I’m not just saying go vote, then that gives you the right to bitch. Get him, get involved. Get involved. When there’s a public consultation, find the time to be heard, to speak. You can criticize, but.

David Martin: That’s not easy.

Gino Moretti: Knowledge and nothing is easy. And if it was easy, everybody will be doing it. The true but it is to go out and talk. Formulate your question or your argument and say, hey, this is this is what I have to observe is not working. But don’t be shy. Recommend something if you if there’s a problem, give a recommend and it might not be your recommendation.

It could be a modify what you have to able. You can say hey I brought that up and there is a change.

David Martin: Is there anything you’ve learned in government that surprised you?

Gino Moretti: Yes.

David Martin: What is that?

Gino Moretti: And one of the thing is not not every elected official are there for the right reason. Unfortunately, some people are there for the title and not the work that needs to be done to represent their district.

David Martin: What do you do with those people when you come, when you come across them?

Gino Moretti: I bring them to my office as a as a military example, as a veteran.

David Martin: Yes.

Gino Moretti: I have a one on one talk.

David Martin: Is that your version of on to the woodshed there?

Gino Moretti: Yes. Okay. But politically, yes, it would.

David Martin: Come to Jesus.

Gino Moretti: You know what I appreciate? No. And I speak with them and I say, you know, hey, this is what I’ve seen. This is what I’m hearing. I need you to reflect on this. You. And I’m not asking you to change because you were elected. Right? I need you to have a more representative of the people you represent. Be more near and don’t.

You can criticize a decision, but publicly you need to speak to the council, say we’re going right and you want to go left, but you need to explain why the council is going this.

David Martin: Direct, well received.

Gino Moretti: At first. No, because they don’t they’re not used to be, criticize or given feedback on their action.

David Martin: Okay.

Gino Moretti: But after a while, it’s a damn. I’m not perfect. Yeah.

David Martin: My CEO works for someone. Does that to you?

Gino Moretti: Well, yeah. The CEO say, you know what? You know? You know you’ve done this or some city council. You know, that was kind of harsh. Now you’re right. It was. And during the pandemic, I made a decision. If you do not live in Saint and you said don’t come and visit, that was a hard decision. Yeah I only got three.

Nice email. So that’s pretty good okay. So it works.

David Martin: So you make news you’re a news maker. Where do you get your news from?

Gino Moretti: I get my news from from Canada first of all. But I do listen to all of you in Canada we get about we see about 40% of us news. And so we do follow US policy US change. I do watch CNN, Fox, NBC, ABC. Yeah, we get the same station. I said our cultures are very identical.

David Martin: Do you get the newspaper delivered to your house?

Gino Moretti: I do not anymore, because it’s. I get it now on the computer.

David Martin: All right, so who’s your political hero? Does someone inspire you to do this? To someone inspire you? A politician inspire you to get involved. You know, you said people urge you to run.

Gino Moretti: Actually, there’s a lot of, within the United States or what? You know, I had a chance while in the mall to meet President Reagan.

David Martin: Okay.

Gino Moretti: I met Mr. Obama, and so I had met them. I also met Canadian Prime Minister Clark. I met Mr., Trudeau and is is is. I never thought I was going to become a politician far from it. I wanted to be a soldier. Serve my country, join to serve, not to be served.

David Martin: Yeah.

Gino Moretti: I risked my life to help others. NGOs in danger as my peers. You know, my brother of Army United States and sister of aam. And I said, you know, I could do something. And when one day citizen my peers approached me said, you know you should run for mayor. You can make a difference. And that’s what I did.

So inspire great leaders of the past. They’re all great leaders because the people elected don’t is to find out what they did good, what did not work, and take and analyze yourself and make your own judgment what you need to get.

David Martin: And you never thought. Never running for office, never speak politics, never being elected. You put your name on the ballot.

Gino Moretti: No, no, no. Because I put my life in danger again when people don’t understand. When you’re in the combat zone. Yeah. When we say don’t go there, there’s a reason. And when you.

David Martin: Served in active combat.

Gino Moretti: In Afghanistan has to go to Africa and, central America. And I always say political, political makes decision for the well-being of the people.

David Martin: Right.

Gino Moretti: If you go there as an advisor, listen to the advisor, you make your own decision and attack.

David Martin: And you’re a sergeant major.

Gino Moretti: Yes.

David Martin: Which is, I believe the highest is the highest rank.

Gino Moretti: And I became the Canadian Army sergeant major of Canada. And I have had the privilege and honor working in law. My colleague here in the United States, the Army sergeant major in the Pentagon. So. Yes.

David Martin: Oh. All right. Did you do a tour of the Pentagon to. Yes, yes, yes. Okay. So you’ve been in lots of places. All right. Now, here’s the hardest question I have never been I’ve been to Canada a couple of times. Montreal not much more than that. I have never been to Quebec. Quebec, I think, is the three.

Gino Moretti: One city in North America. Okay? Yeah.

David Martin: What’s the dish? What’s what’s this? What’s this? Hey. We’re having we’re going out. Okay? We’re going out. Where are we? What? Do we have any allergies?

Gino Moretti: That’s a common question in.

David Martin: Our.

Gino Moretti: Guard. Okay. Putin. Putin desecrating Quebec. Much more French fries.

David Martin: French fries? Are you cheese? Cheese curd.

Gino Moretti: Cheese curd.

David Martin: Right. She’s scared or.

Gino Moretti: Has to be. Cannot be. Yeah. All right. But there’s a lot partition wire explained Shepherd’s pie.

David Martin: Okay.

Gino Moretti: As is Quebec’s national dish.

David Martin: Really?

Gino Moretti: Yes.

David Martin: Shepherd’s British shepherd’s pie.

Gino Moretti: No. Quebec partition.

David Martin: What’s the difference?

Gino Moretti: It’s made in Quebec, Quebec potato, Quebec NE, Quebec sauce. And and and also little high. And it’ll is while meat pies okay. And mostly serving in winter time. All right so I the great harvest. Yes.

David Martin: Okay. And in summer.

Gino Moretti: And summer just say you I say a good corn moisten the barbecue goes a long way.

David Martin: All right. Okay. All right. Good. All right. Well, I like that idea. Poutine. Who who who doesn’t like poutine, right.

Gino Moretti: Exactly.

David Martin: So this is the good government show. We always try to bring it back to good government. Give me an example of a good government project you’ve worked on, either in your city or with the Great Lakes, and Saint Lawrence City Initiative that you’re really proud of.

Gino Moretti: One of being proud is what the Great Lakes City Initiative is one a big ship goes on. The Saint Lawrence and the Great Lakes will changes. Ballasting in certain area, not to contaminate any Great Lakes with different invasive species. That is awesome. Before we had mussels invading, we have, invasion Asian carp. Now on to ship ballast changes certain area.

We can control those contact contaminating. That is a great success.

David Martin: You mentioned Asian carp. That was a real problem. I think they were putting up nets or fences or something like that. Yeah.

Gino Moretti: The governor of Illinois finally signed off last year on the project. What the, new United States Corps of Engineers that will help reduce. But don’t forget the first responsibility. I’m a hunter. And Fisher starts with us. Cleans your boat before you go to a different lake, not to it. Taking the invasive microbes in that place. And by doing that, the Great Lakes Initiative did that.

David Martin: I have swam in, Lake Huron and like Michigan, likewise. Incredibly clean. Yeah.

Gino Moretti: So thank you. No. Thank you. I greatly appreciate it. And thank you for allowing me to be up to be part of your team on Good Government Show. And you know what? Together we can achieve. Great. But if we get everybody working together and put aside sometime our differences, we will achieve greatness. Because North America, Canada, the United States, two great nation working as one.

David Martin: For the future. Well, I can’t top that. Our first Canadian mayor, our first international guest, Mayor Gina moretti. Michelle, mayor of France. Merci beaucoup. Merci beaucoup. That’s all, my friends.

Gino Moretti: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

David Martin: Thank you for coming.

Gino Moretti: No. Thank you. Great to have you.

David Martin: The Good Government show is sponsored by our. That’s. Oh, you are for our community. Get involved. We hear that all the time from government leaders. Our co-branding with your governments name and logo, your staff and the people you serve are connected and part of your community. From any device. Your members provide reliable data and meaningful feedback. Ask a question like, do we want more parkland or better homeless services?

More engaged conversations come through the our app. Visit our Co that’s ou rco.com and book a demonstration.

As you heard my French is well minimal, but luckily genome already speaks flawless English. Here’s one thing I learned he’s retired Canadian Army Sergeant Major, but took his training with the U.S. Army and deployed with the US Army. So nice to have Gino as a neighbor. Here’s another thing Canadians might just do better. As you heard, the election cycle for him lasted 45 days.

Just 45 days. People lose attention, he says. If it goes on any longer, and this might be an idea worth looking at here in the USA. A good conversation with our Canadian and neighbor, Gino Moretti. Canadians are, as you heard, very good neighbors. I hope everyone in Washington is keeping that in mind and listening to the good government show.

Well, thanks for listening to another episode of How Good Government Works for all of us. Please like share this with your friends and our viewers right here where you’re listening, and check out our website. Good Government Show Dicom for extras. Help us keep telling stories of good government and action everywhere. Join us again for another episode right here.

I’m Dave Martin and this is the Good Government show.

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**This transcription was created using digital tools and has not been edited by a live person. We apologize for any discrepancies or errors.