MP fields handful of questions in Telephone Townhall

By VALERIE MACDONALD, NORTHUMBERLAND TODAY

Posted 11 months ago

NORTHUMBERLAND -- Local MP Rick Norlock hired a company to hold a "Telephone Townhall" meeting last Wednesday in which he says at least 3,000 constituents participated.

Front Porch Strategies was hired through his advertising budget and a computer program was employed to telephone 12,000 constituents at 7 p.m. on March 16, he said. Some of those who stayed on the line after they received a recorded message were able to hear questions and indicate their "yes" or "no" reply to them -- and everyone who stayed on the telephone for the full hour could hear questions from the 12 to 15 constituents who got through and his replies to them, Norlock said.

His office provided a list of constituents and the phone numbers came from the telephone book, he said.

The media were not informed of the event beforehand, Norlock said, "because we were trying it out for the first time."

Asked what he heard from his constituents through the "Telephone Townhall," Norlock said one of three groups which participated were seniors concerned about pensions. Another group of respondents were veterans and the final group was made up of people talking about the high price of gas, the federal budget and unemployment, he said.

Last Wednesday's conference-type call was described as Norlock's continuing effort to "ensure direct democracy and public engagement."

While admitting the first-time effort didn't go perfectly, Norlock described the process already been used by some MPs in southwestern Ontario as "truly a success for direct democracy in Northumberland-Quinte West by including 3,000 constituents."

Some people were unable to reach the MP directly and the constituency office is in the midst of answering a voice-mail service handling the overflow, the media release also states.

Note: The federal budget which Norlock referenced was scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday. Its details and local reaction to what it contains will be available in Thursday's newspaper and on website at www.northumberlandtoday. c om .

vmacdonald@northumberlandtoday.com