Elected officials should not block constituents on social media simply because they disagree with them. Social media helps to keep citizens informed and engaged in local issues and politics.
Sadly, we have been blocked by one of our Councillors for no other reason than calling out her misleading statements regarding a local issue. We are now unable to see her comments, nor are we able to see the replies of other Councillors on this Facebook post. Other Councillors also replied to her comments on Sunderland Arena and Allan’s Place. We have been effectively shut out of our local political process.
Cara Zwibel, Director of Fundamental Freedoms Program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, stated, “…elected officials have special constitutional duties and responsibilities to their constituents – and this means they may need to have thicker skin when it comes to online criticism”. Unlike the examples given in the article, we did not “harass” nor did we “threaten” Councillor Campbell. Even in such a situation, Zwibel felt the elected official was wrong to block their constituent. Instead, she referred to this instance as “political engagement” and the politician having a “fundamental misunderstanding of how the political process works.” To be very clear, we have never bullied, harassed, slandered, nor called Councillor Campbell names. We replied to her public comment on a Facebook post, and she blocked us.
The Councillor initiated the exchange by posting public comments as a Representative of Brock Township that was misleading about a very charged local issue – Allan’s Place. She stated the claims of the victimized Seniors were exaggerated, and she claimed Allan’s Place was always “built for seniors with a few units allocated for people with disabilities.” In response, she was sent quotes from Durham Region Non-Profit Housing (DRNPH) newsletters and press releases along with links that clearly showed DRNPH had initially intended Allan’s Place to be solely for Seniors. She was pleaded with to read the press releases and asked to admit that everyone had been misled. In one such press release, DRNPH is quoted as saying the facility was “all geared toward seniors.” Press conferences at the time, along with press releases and DRNPH newsletters, repeatedly referred to the facility as being for seniors.
In fact, the facility was promoted as such over a dozen times until the month the facility opened to residents, and then the wording changed. Now there are a handful of individuals living in this facility who are not Seniors who do not have the supports and services they truly need wreaking havoc and causing real concern for Seniors and their families. She was misleading in her information, and as constituents, we responded respectfully and factually, correcting her inaccuracies. For this, we were blocked! We cannot see her comments, nor are we able to see the replies of other representatives and constituents on this same thread. As constituents, we should have the right to participate as fully as we can and wish in our political process. Councillor Campbell has denied us this right! I (Lisa) attempted to reach out to Councillor Campbell last week through the Township of Brock email. It has now been four days, and there has yet to be a response from her, and we still remain blocked. In a democratic society, individuals should be able to engage with their elected officials. It is shameful when our elected officials think otherwise.
Lisa Schummer, Cannington Lynne Holtrust, Cannington