Staying above the fray

Associations have to avoid getting swept up in the political chaos of Ottawa election season

The return to Parliament has always been a period of excitement for the people who are genuinely interested in the process of politics and also for those who are affected by the outcomes of this same political process. 

It is a period often characterized by surprises, gamesmanship and, to be fair — utter chaos. This dynamic is only exacerbated as you are getting closer to elections, when parties are becoming less and less collaborative while constantly searching for new angles, legitimate or not, to underline the wrongdoings of other political organizations.

I usually use these columns to write on specific political issues or dominant economic trends, but I thought the current political climate, where confidence votes are piling up at a rapid pace, was the right opportunity to talk about the general approach stakeholders should take when dealing with a divided Parliament.

Indeed, through this mess, Canadian stakeholders still have to properly use these next four months of political actions and find creative ways to drive their issues forward with key politicians and public officials. So, how does the automotive retail industry — which is economically important but often suffers from negative public opinion — succeed in a time of heightened partisanship and political tension?

Well, the automotive retail industry is truly unique and the actors that partake in it have a different perspective than most of the main voices often heard in Parliament. 

By being an industry anchored in entrepreneurship, its diverse landscape of workers and its important ties to the U.S market, auto dealers have their ability to bring their own story to the table and — believe me — stories are what politicians are looking for. 

Now, it is important not to overamplify or underplay certain industry trends to make sure the association’s narrative fits within a party’s strategy, which is something that can be enticing when polls are pointing heavily towards a clear majority winner come next elections. 

The key is to identify clearly, and execute appropriately, the windows of opportunities where the story of Canadian auto dealers can come in and be used to add insights, context, perspective to the discussion on important issues. 

A great example of that for the automotive sector was the work that was done by industry representatives, in and around Parliament, to try and stop the recent vehicle theft crisis. 

Think of it this way: an association could very well paint itself with the political colour they believe would reap the most benefits. While this strategy could generate short-term wins, this colour or reputation can be hard to shed and lead to long-term difficulties. Funnily enough, the association risks painting itself into a corner down the line. 

Obviously, there are historical and regional ties that can create alignments between political organizations and members, but the role of the association representatives in Ottawa is to maintain a neutral, open and collaborative position.

The other option, which is sustainable and non-partisan, is to try and paint every relevant issue with the colour of the automotive industry, and more specifically with the realities of Canadian auto dealers. 

Every time there’s a public consultation, a parliamentary debate or a media trend remotely close to the values and challenges of the automobile retailers, there’s a chance for them to add nuances, data and hard facts that only this industry can provide.

For instance, if an association — big or small — believes its strength lies within the testimonies of its members on how a specific rule change can negatively affect their businesses, then it’s vital to find ways to get these stories through to politicians, be it by visiting them in Ottawa or by sending them relevant news clippings. 

This approach not only requires constant tracking and ongoing communications with political offices in strategic positions, but it also forces the association to define clearly, and sometimes improve upon, what they can provide to the many politicians and public officials involved in each specific instance. 

A great example of that for the automotive sector was the work that was done by industry representatives, in and around Parliament, to try and stop the recent vehicle theft crisis. 

From afar, this campaign could have been interpreted as if there was a clear alignment with the Official Opposition early on, and that there was a partnership with the auto industry and other allies, to generate pressure on the government.

Well, pressure to generate government action was always the goal, as it is the key purpose for stakeholders in a time of crisis. In reality, relevant actors from the automotive industry interacted with all parties from the start and relied on a fact-based approach to present the best avenues to potentially solve this important problem. 

The objectives behind these non-partisan discussions varied, indeed some of them were aimed at inducing action while others were purposefully educational, thus ensuring the actions taken were the right ones. 

In fact, the stolen vehicle crisis wasn’t initially painted with a specific political colour, but every party that decided to take this issue seriously were rapidly educated by the expert voices and auto industry stakeholders involved in the matter. 

Once again, the relevant groups painted the issue with their own colours and brought multiple organizations to the table instead of letting one party lead the dance. 

Obviously, some opposition parties saw an opportunity and were initially more collaborative from the get-go, while the government needed the pressure from the industry, the media and the House to align itself with some of the solutions recommended by sectoral experts. The key element is that auto representatives didn’t lean on one particular political side, but instead made sure that every important decision maker understood that the best ideas and insights, on this specific issue, came from our industry.

In the end, while there truly is chaos in Ottawa, especially when elections are looming, there is no need for stakeholders to get caught up in this frenzy. 

The political games will inevitably happen and it is essential for stakeholders to remain centered on their priorities, on the underlying stories they are trying to tell, to remain creative and to remain multifaceted in the way they engage with governments.

Being heard in Ottawa will always be about being able — and willing — to talk to everybody and to establish common grounds. When advocacy groups find ways to relate to politicians on a deeper level, many layers tend to disappear… including the colour of their respective party. 

About Charles Bernard

Charles Bernard is the Lead Economist for the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association. Charles aims to bridge the information gap that might exist between dealers’ interests and the economic policy being deployed in Ottawa. You can reach him at: cbernard@cada.ca

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