An acquaintance from Aurora contacted me the other day. He explained that one of the local riding associations planned a question-and-answer session with political candidates contesting in the current federal election. He knew that the Uxbridge Cosmos had just staged a forum.
“I know that the golden rule of moderating is try to be invisible,” he said. “But do you have any tips for me?”
“I think you’ve got it,” I answered. “Be firm. Be fair. But at the same time, as much as possible, stay out of the way.”
As a resident of Uxbridge for some 35 years now, I can think of only one or two candidates’ debates I have not moderated. Since the early 1990s, I’ve had the privilege of emceeing most events here that featured political rivals offering their platforms at all three levels of government – municipal, provincial and federal.
And no, I don’t believe any elected one official is greater than another; to me a councillor is as important as an MPP is as important as an MP. So, after striving for invisibility, perhaps the next thing to keep in mind as a moderator then, is that all elected service is vital and all those campaigning for it deserve a voice and to be heard in a healthy democracy.
I’m proud to say that the candidates’ forum on April 14 was unique. We had a full house (I know. I helped set out about 300 chairs, all of which were occupied that night; an additional 100 or more attendees stood along the walls).
Another twist, in case you missed it – all the main candidates but one participated in our forum – Patricia Conlin (PPC), Justin Graham (NDP), Rob Grossi (Liberal), Matt Pearce (Green) attended. Jacob Mantle (PC) did not; he notified us that day (April 14) he had chosen to participate in “events that matter.”
For a moderator that’s a blessing and a curse. The absence of a major candidate means that you can’t let attacks on his platform or his person get out of hand; to ensure they didn’t, I encouraged those present to practise “the civility this community is known for.”
Conversely, one fewer candidate allowed the four who showed up to dig more deeply, and at greater length, into issues that matter on the international stage and at home in the York-Durham constituency – survival of family farms, affordable housing in a township that has little, jobs for young people and MP responsiveness to local needs.
Several questioners at a public microphone criticized politicians for not answering phone calls.
“I’m a serial responder,” stated Green candidate Pearce.
That was heartfelt and original. And we witnessed much of that. When a young member of the audience asked about seeing items in Uxbridge store windows with higher prices from tariffs, she wondered what that meant.
The NDP’s Justin Graham admitted that U.S. tariffs mean “not a good future for our kids.” There are always awkward moments for a moderator when things get heated in a debate. When several questioners preferred to rant at the microphone, rather than to get any answer, I had to intervene (echoed by others in the audience) with, “Question, please.”
Other moments, such as candidate Conlin’s false claim that “CBC reporting is biased,” demanded a response, but not from a moderator. I bit my tongue.
I think the conditions and personalities at this forum offered something I’ve rarely witnessed in the heat of political debate: consensus. When Green candidate Pearce offered his party’s views on housing, infrastructure and sustainable energy development, Liberal candidate Grossi didn’t retort with a partisan rebuttal. “We should discuss these things,” Grossi said. “We’ve got to get creative.”
The last guideline for moderating a political forum I’d suggest is obvious, but paramount – reminding the audience that voting is both a right and a privilege. It’s not like deciding whether to go shopping or go see a movie. Canadians have died defending our right to vote freely.
I’ve never finished a candidates’ debate by demanding that people vote. But I have reminded constituents of the courage it takes to step up and run for office. In Third World states and even here in North America, people have refused to run for office out of fear for their well-being; former MP Jennifer O’Connell admitted, in part, threats to her person dissuaded her from running again.
Which is why my final rule for moderating is to make sure everybody “gets out of Dodge alive.” At least figuratively, I’ve always managed to achieve that.