Dunlop Explains Consultation/Media Issue
By John Swartz
Simcoe North MPP, Jill Dunlop, said she was surprised by the backlash she received when reporters were denied access to a pre-budget consultation held in Orillia Jan. 25.
“Yes I was surprised. There was nobody (reporters) there ahead of time, or nobody waiting for after,” said Dunlop.
A press release received by media, including SUNonline/Orillia, did not say anything about the consultation being closed, but did offer Dunlop’s availability before and after the consultation. Past practice with the previous Simcoe North MPP, Garfield Dunlop, did not exclude media form the consultation. Jill Dunlop hosted the first consultation of her political career.
“I looked to other MPPs to find out, and we were kind of given this as what the format looks like; media availability before and after but closed during. We were following the same rules as other MPPs did,” said Dunlop.
It is obvious the newness of the task clashed with what media members expected based on past practice. SUNonline was unable to attend, but would have expected to have access to the consultation as before. The meeting being closed was not flagged in the press release.
“There was maybe a grey area where you might have seen – yes we can attend the whole thing – whereas we were saying before and after,” said Dunlop.
“Moving forward we will make sure we are very clear for any of those things when media is able to attend, or a section that’s closed.” Said Dunlop. “We just wanted when people were doing their presentation to be comfortable in speaking to the group and not worrying about what media was recording.”
Dunlop commented she does things differently than her father when he held the office.
“Which is funny because people in the beginning said – oh, she’s going to be just like her dad. And now when I do things differently from my dad they’re like – oh, but your dad used to do it that way. It’s like damned if I do, damned if I don’t,” said Dunlop.
She wants to maintain a good relationship with the press and doesn’t want anyone to think closed meetings will be the norm, or dictated from above.
“I don’t believe so. I was always very open during the election, and always have been. This was a decision made for those participating that media wasn’t there during that presentation time, but it’s not a practice of the government. In fact, every time we make an announcement we are encouraged to be out there, spread the word and answer questions,” said Dunlop.
“I think it’s important I have a good relationship with my local media.”
Regarding what she heard during the Orillia consultation (one in Midland a week later was cancelled because of weather conditions), Dunlop said about 75% of the presentations were made by agencies and the rest by local businesses.
“We heard from tourism groups, we heard from chambers, we heard from hospitals, a wide variety, there wasn’t just one theme. People understood the situation we are in with the debt,” said Dunlop.
“One of the businesses I heard from was Fern Resort. The owner, Mark (Downing), started off complimenting the government. He said as far as working with governments of the past, he said he’d never seen a government that’s been so supportive of business,” said Dunlop.
According to Dunlop, Downing’s concern was not being able to find enough people to work at his business. Dunlop said he happened to be seated next to someone who made a presentation about social assistance and finding jobs for people.
“How can we make this connection to get people into jobs” said Dunlop. She said a conference she attended recently related; a presentation in Collingwood from a resort operator was concerned not having enough housing for people they want to hire (about 300) and it was holding back the business.
Several presentations where pitches not to decrease funding for some programs, however Dunlop said some offered solutions to maintain funding, but allocating differently would be an improvement.
One idea pitched seems to have gotten Dunlop’s attention. It was from Building Hope. They were advocating for funding to include a community clinic in their development.
“They gave the example that in Orillia there isn’t a community health clinic like there is in Barrie. People using the services of the Lighthouse and Building Hope are having to go wait in emergency rooms,” said Dunlop. She recalled the presentation made a compelling case for the long term.
“So looking at a community health clinic in Orillia at the new Building Hope, what that could mean down the road if you invested money here, the savings you’d see in the future,” said Dunlop.
MPPs return to Queen’s Park Feb. 19. A date the government will bring a budget has not been set, but expects it will be in March.
(Photo by Swartz – SUNonline/Orillia)
