BETA: How to make outdoor recreation a municipal election issue

Image: Northern BC Tourism and Mattias Fredriksson

In the outdoors, beta is the friendly advice or information that helps us navigate a route or obstacle. Our BETA blogs bring that idea to the challenges facing outdoor recreation. They take a larger topic, distill it into the most useful points and connect you with more information when you want to dig deeper.

British Columbians go to the polls on October 17 to elect new municipal governments for a four-year term.

This is an important opportunity for clubs and societies to put outdoor recreation on the ballot, and one of the simplest and most powerful ways to do that is to ask candidates thoughtful questions at debates, all-candidate meetings, open houses, town halls and the like. 

In August, we hosted a webinar on lobbying elected officials that included some tips on asking good questions. Watch the recording.

Key takeaways were: do your research on the issues and candidates, focus on values and priorities, and ask for specifics rather than intentions.

With the municipal election period beginning on September 19, now is the time to prepare to ask better questions to the people hoping to represent you and your community as mayor, councillors and regional district representatives across the province. 

1 thing to remember: Thoughtful, focused questions invite clear answers and make it harder for candidates to hide behind talking points. 

The anatomy of a great question: 

• name the issue 

• briefly state why it matters 

• ask what the candidate will do about it 

Why your questions matter: During our webinar, Prairie Chiu, Director of Engagement and Advocacy for Vantage Point, a non-profit that trains non-profits, noted that she hears from a lot of organizations that they hesitate to engage with their elected officials because they worry about looking partisan or stepping outside of their mandate. 

“But when you [ask questions] of public office holders, you are representing the people and communities you serve,” says Chiu. “Being able to bring some of the issues rising from members is so important.”

Plus, as a representative of a club or society, you are more powerful than a single voice. You are highlighting issues that matter to many in the community. And you may be raising emerging issues that the candidates and elected officials do not know about. 

Keep in mind: As a community group, it’s best to stay nonpartisan, which means refraining from endorsing any particular candidate or party. It’s the easiest way to ensure you are not breaking any election laws, and it makes it easier to maintain a working relationship with whoever is elected. 

Learn more about lobbying rules: https://www.lobbyistsregistrar.bc.ca/the-registry

5 steps to asking better questions

Define your ask

• Identify the issue you want addressed

• Make sure it is a municipal responsibility. Find out here.

Refine your knowledge

• Do your research, so you know the issue better than anyone.

• Use facts, not assumptions.

• Go beyond problems to solutions. Define the actions you want to see.

Know the rules

• Research the parameters for asking questions during the event. 

• Taylor your question to the ground rules, particularly the format (pre-submitted, written down, open mic, etc.) and time limits.

• Arrive early, find a seat near the microphone, and register to ask a question if required. 

• Write your question down and bring it with you

  • If there’s time: introduce yourself, who you represent (X number of constituents), and your connection to the issue.

    1. Always include: 

       1. the issue

       2. why it matters

       3. what the candidate will do about it.

    2. Invite candidates to highlight their values and priorities.

    3. Bring a backup question, so you are prepared if someone else asks a similar question.

• Listen to the answers

  1. Respectful engagement begins with being present and open to what candidates have to say, even if you disagree.

  2. Take notes on their responses, so you can report back to your members, follow up with candidates to gather more information, and track promises and commitments.

Don’t stop there

Another key message from the Lobbying webinar is that advocacy is a continuous activity. The period immediately after an election is especially important, when new councils set their priorities and strategies for the next four years. To make sure your priorities are theirs, follow up with newly elected officials to remind them of your questions and their commitments.