Mayor Don McIsaac and city council have been governing Orillia residents for a year. We asked the mayor and council five key questions about the first year of their four-year term. We will publish their answers, verbatim. Today is the final of the five-part series, in which they answer the following question:
Can you speak to being a politician in today's climate? Does social media pose unique issues in your work? If so, how do you manage these issues?
Mayor Don McIsaac
As the mayor of Orillia, I believe that the increasing use of social media in today's society can be beneficial for the public. Social media has become an additional means for the residents of Orillia to exchange information and stay informed about the latest developments in our city. It has paved the way for me, as the mayor, and the city to disseminate information to the residents immediately, thereby ensuring that they are kept up-to-date with the latest information.
Social media also provides the public with a means of holding their council accountable. If a decision is made that is not in the public's interest, I am likely to hear about it through social media. Given the decline of print journalism in Orillia, having alternative avenues for information exchange, such as social media, is crucial to municipal politics.
David Campbell (Ward 1)
The biggest challenge with social media is that people can post something that isn’t true and it is taken as fact. Then you have a discussion with someone and relay the actual facts, but they are skeptical because of what they read online.
So you end up spending a lot of time digging through reports and motions to find ‘proof’. This then takes away from the time you are spending on the issues of the day. I’ve said before that I feel that media plays a role in this, too. Sometimes a ‘sensationalist’ headline is all a person reads.
I’ve often shied away from speaking with the media. I avoid being in ‘photo-ops’ as well. It’s just a part of the job I’ve never been particularly comfortable with. Perhaps it’s about time I got over that and helped to bring the facts to people in a much more public manner.
Whitney Smith (Ward 1)
I find great fulfillment in supporting, engaging with, and contributing to the growth of Orillia. As a native of this beautiful city, I have a deep-rooted connection with generations of my family, who have played their part in serving and shaping Orillia in various ways. Serving our residents is both a joy and an honour.
Looking ahead, I am excited about the future of our council and the meaningful projects we will embark on. Together, we will work to enhance Orillia, ensuring that the positive changes we make today will leave a lasting impact for future generations to enjoy.
Regarding social media, I do use it occasionally to share my experiences at events and connect with our community. However, I consciously limit my online presence to stay focused on the essential work of serving our residents and improving our city. I am available to our constituents via phone calls or email anytime.
Ralph Cipolla (Ward 2)
Being a politician in today's climate comes with its unique set of challenges, particularly with the pervasive influence of social media. Social media allows for direct communication with constituents, but it also poses challenges in managing public perception and addressing misinformation.
I strive to use social media as a tool for transparency and community engagement. I prioritize open communication, actively address concerns, and work to foster a respectful online dialogue. While social media can present challenges, it also provides an opportunity to connect with the community on a broader scale.
As a politician, it is essential to adapt to the changing landscapes and effectively leverage these platforms to serve the best interests of our constituents. One challenge is getting the message out to seniors within our community so that is a priority for me to concentrate on.
Luke Leatherdale (Ward 2)
At the municipal level, I get to do what I love, which is talking to people around town. I hear what people in Orillia want and I get to bring that to the table.
Social media is both a tool and a toxin. It's great on the one hand, because you can share what you're doing around town related to helping others, but it's good to take a break from that screen, get out and experience the world without that distraction.
I find my best experiences as a councillor are casual conversations I strike up with people at the grocery store, on the street, at a restaurant, wherever, and those moments are gold, because I get a good sense of what the average person wants. I try to limit my time on social media to what's relevant to my role, get out there and have those important face-to-face conversations.
Jeff Czetwerzuk (Ward 3)
Of course, in today’s climate there are a lot of challenges such as the housing crisis and the opioid crisis. As a council, we have responded to these challenges by creating an addiction and overdose working group as well as trying to be creative and find solutions for more affordable, accessible and attainable housing. These challenges are very complex and difficult and need creative solutions, which is something we are working towards as a council.
During the campaign, lots of constituents talked to me about these issues and that’s why they are such a large part of our council priorities.
On the aspect of social media, I think social media is a great way to connect with constituents. There’s a lot of great initiatives and community events that are shared through social media as well as communications from the city of Orillia. I think for me personally it is a good way to keep up to date on things happening locally and to stay engaged in the community. Also, another benefit was, when news articles were on Facebook, I enjoyed being able to read the comments and get a sense of how the community was feeling and reacting to what was happening.
Jay Fallis (Ward 3)
Social media is a wonderful platform for politicians to communicate with the public and stay connected with what is happening locally. However, there can be challenges. I am fortunate to be able to navigate social media relatively easily and I find it's a great way to connect with constituents.
I will often share information through my Facebook and Instagram pages. There have been many times residents have reached out to me through social media and I have been able to answer questions and respond to requests. Whether it be about a pothole or asking about my political stance, I always welcome the opportunity to hear from Orillians!
That said, I am rarely a target for harassment. For other politicians, dealing with online harassment can be a difficult part of the job. It is important that no matter one's political stripes, we are all respectful of one another.
I always love to hear from Orillians. If you have a question or comment, please feel free to reach out!
Janet-Lynne Durnford (Ward 4)
Social media is a great tool for disseminating information, but we all know that it can also be a vehicle for misinformation. There’s a profound distrust of government and media in our current social climate.
In a sense, being a municipal councillor is like being a scapegoat — you are the person who gets blamed when people don’t know who else to blame. I think that it’s important to just do the best I can, fact-check everything, act with integrity, and be accountable for my decisions. There are always people who are going to criticize and even threaten, and some are emboldened by the anonymity of the keyboard. It’s important not to take things personally.
Tim Lauer (Ward 4)
I have no issues with social media mainly because I am not active. I do, as mentioned in a previous response, have a concern for the general state of communications.
We have all kinds of new technological tools that should, if used properly, make us the most informed era of all times. I don’t get the sense that is the case. Not sure what the answer will be but it is incumbent on us as politicians to continue to explore the new.
OrilliaMatters thanks Mayor Don McIsaac and councillors for their thoughtful answers to our questions aimed at helping to keep Orillia’s citizens informed about municipal issues.
