Hopefully it was in the last election, but what about your organization – when did it last vote? If the recent decision to drop the mandatory long Census form is any indication, the current political environment means that votes matter more than ever and policy solutions need to deliver political appeal.
There has always been an acknowledgment that businesses need to be engaged with government to ensure wealth creation, jobs, and a functioning economy even if it isn’t through the ballot box.But business engagement, whether formal or informal, has increasingly been relegated to second fiddle importance if it doesn’t come with votes.
With over six years of minority government in Ottawa, public opinion and grassroots criticism has become the most important currency in town. Faced with the uncertainty of a potential election around every corner, recent governments are in constant campaign mode.
And of course in a campaign, votes matter.
When votes matter, sound policy advice based on well-understood consequences matters less. Though Minister Clement’s decision to side with MPs concerned by citizen complaints over well-established practices recommended by experts seems to have backfired in the press, the logic was consistent with a number of recent decisions that chose public opinion over informed advice. Disgruntled voters upset with the arduous task of a long census form don’t look kindly on the government, let’s make it optional and they’ll like us more.
Criticism to replacing the mandatory Census form with a voluntary one has come from a range of sources including media, municipal governments, immigrant organizations and statistical experts. There has been no criticism from the average voter however. This might change when the public comes to know how much the increased number of voluntary forms will cost, a cost that some insiders are estimating to be an additional $30 million – though maybe that’s unlikely when Canadians are probably more concerned about the cost of their weekend barbecue.
Businesses should take note. Now more than ever organizations need to ensure government understands the realities they face, their priorities, and the consequences of policy decisions — especially the political ones. Without a vote in a minority parliament, business concerns by themselves just don’t rank with a government lacking the luxury of a four year agenda.
