There seems to be a particular type of voter itch that can’t be scratched online.
As the overwhelming majority of political discourse on Salt Spring, in Canada and around the world continues to be held “remotely” (in one way or another), one might be excused for wondering why we thought it important to physically gather four MLA candidates onto a theatre stage –– or even why they might agree to such a thing.
It’s not a matter of reaching more voters; the numbers favour online viewing. Indeed, twice as many have viewed the debate video in the past week than could’ve fit in ArtSpring’s comfy seats for the Oct. 9 all-candidates debate, and more still will read about it in print.
It can’t be policy clarity; governance is complicated, and issues are interconnected. The idea any candidate could field a question and answer more fulsomely in the two minutes the format demands than in an email –– or on their website –– is laughable.
So how did the seeming anachronism of an in-person debate turn into a standing-room-only event on a Wednesday night?
The truth is that while many voters might’ve had some idea about what answer a candidate might give to a particular question, we all showed up that night to see how they gave it. There’s an understanding that politics –– even in an age of Zoom meetings, emailed feedback and remote delegations –– is as much about character as policy. And that’s still tough to pin down through a screen.
Islanders have come to expect every candidate grasp the issues and advocate for their riding; what we’re looking for at these in-person events is that elusive personable quality –– some evidence they’ve got an agreeable, collaborative spirit, and an ability to find that common ground we know is critical to good governance.
We were delighted to see candidates display their humanity as thoroughly as their thoughtfulness, felt most attendees saw at least one person on stage that could do the job, and are satisfied to know the epitaph for the in-person debate will continue to languish in draft. Many thanks to the Salt Spring Forum and to the public for joining us.