Rallies? Make Them Non-Partisan
By Peter Ewart
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 03:48 AM
As everyone knows in our region, we are facing an unprecedented crisis in 
our forest industry. It seems like every week, more bad news comes out, with thousands of workers laid off, businesses closing, and both small and large forest companies bowled over like ten pins.
our forest industry. It seems like every week, more bad news comes out, with thousands of workers laid off, businesses closing, and both small and large forest companies bowled over like ten pins.In such an atmosphere, broad-based community rallies that involve people of different political persuasions can be very effective in getting people into action and getting the momentum going for positive change. The northern health rally of June 2000, which attracted over 7,000 people to the Multiplex, is a clear example. Our of that rally came the Northern Medical Program, which is now graduating high trained medical personnel, many of whom will stay in the North.
Another example is the Mackenzie “Save Our Community Rally” which will be taking place on May 23. The preparations for this rally are already creating tremendous energy and enthusiasm in Mackenzie, as well as keen interest in other communities. Mackenzie has been dealt one body blow after another over the last year, but it is a testimony to the townspeople’s resilience that they are organizing a community rally with such vigour and enthusiasm. They are to be applauded.
What is the key to the success of such rallies? One essential component is that they are non-partisan; and another is that they are broad-based.
According to the dictionary, the term “non-partisan” means “not supporting or controlled by a particular party or special interest group.”
But maintaining the non-partisan character of an event can often be difficult because of the extreme party politics in British Columbia. It is because of these extreme party divisions that there are those who will refuse to support a rally or event simply because individuals from an opposing party are involved in some way. The issue for these people is not what burning problems are facing the community, but rather whether or not the event advances their party interest.
Being “broad based” is also a key component in these community rallies. When a town gets hit with major mill closures like Mackenzie has been, all sections of the community bleed, whether it be workers, supervisory personnel, forestry contractors, business people, professionals, or retirees. Thus it is important that a wide cross-section of people is represented at these rallies.
Does non-partisan mean that people should not take political stands on issues? Far from it. A rally can take a “political stand” on an issue and still be non-partisan.
For example, let’s look at the issue of raw log exports. A very wide range of public opinion is opposed to these exports, ranging from unions, to forest scientists, to municipal councils, to local branches of the Chamber of Commerce (such as the Prince George Chamber of Commerce). Demanding that government ban raw log exports is to take a political stand, but not necessarily a partisan one, i.e., someone who opposes raw log exports may also vote for the government that is allowing them. Just as some people who attended the northern health rally back in 1999 still voted for the government of the day.
Other broad issues, especially for smaller towns in the North, could include bringing back some new version of appurtancy that would require mills to process logs in the community where they are harvested, or providing secure access to timber for smaller companies, or maintaining community infrastructure in the face of mill closures and layoffs.
The task is to create broad unity around such issues, and rallies can be very useful in that regard creating a powerful momentum for positive change. With that kind of unity, our region can push for these solutions irrespective of which party gets into power. And that is important because there are too many examples of parties getting elected into government and then attempting to reverse their election promises.
In the final analysis, what it all comes down to is credibility. A community rally of this type should be just that – a community rally. Not a rally for or against one political party or another. The extent that such a rally is genuinely non-partisan and broad based will determine the extent that it will move things ahead for the good of the entire community. Above all, it sends a powerful message that is hard to ignore.
Peter Ewart is a writer and college instructor based in Prince George, British Columbia. He can be emailed at: peter.ewart@shaw.ca
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Posted by: diplomat on May 20 2008 7:43 AM
If they have suggestions, have they taken them to those who might be able to help, or is this the way that they think meaningful help will come?
Are the effects on the community reflected by the number in the rally, so that if 500 show up the effects on the community are less serious than if 1,500 or more show up?