(Opinion) Priscilla Phillips: Why are politicians afraid of questions? We must ensure our voices are heard

The Conservative Party of Canada’s communication strategy often seems insular, leaving some constituents, like myself, with no voice.

Despite his overwhelming support of the ‘Freedom Convoy’, Bob Zimmer MP blocked my access to his official Facebook page several weeks ago.

Is there a law that prohibits it? No. I checked.

While it is frowned upon, there doesn’t appear to be a law that prohibits an MP from erasing the voices of their constituents on a public page. But it certainly raises questions about the ethics of it, and perhaps more importantly, the ‘why’ of it.

I know my political perspectives are a minority here, and I don’t ask that people change their party affiliation. What I do ask is for transparency from our elected officials.

We’ve lived in Fort St. John since 1992, and as a constituent, I’ve discovered my voice has short shrift. I’ve written two letters and received no response to either.

The first was asking what message Bob Zimmer was sending to the rest of his constituents by openly supporting the ‘Freedom Convoy’, the second seeking clarification on why I was blocked from his official Facebook page.

I’ve since visited his constituency office here in Fort St. John, but he has not reversed his decision.

This year, I ventured into the Conservative Party’s Facebook echo chambers for the first time. I never envisioned the changing status we now have with the U.S.

The stakes are higher this year than anything prior. I had questions about the Conservative stance, but when I began reading the posts on Bob Zimmer MP’s Facebook page, it seemed criticism and mudslinging dominated the discourse.

It’s challenging to understand the implications of Conservative policies for Canadians when the focus is more on criticism than clarity.

This approach, reminiscent of tactics used in other political landscapes, raises concerns about its long-term impact on informed discourse.

How do we, as voters, make educated decisions when the narrative is designed to enrage rather than inform?

We, the electorate, deserve to know what each party plans to do. Questions about policies and bills should be welcomed, not suppressed. What is it Bob Zimmer MP doesn’t want us to know?

The post that got me blocked was my response to yet another smear against the Liberals.

I wrote something along the lines of: “We know the Conservatives hate Trudeau, Carney and the Liberal Party, but if elected, what will you do with the bills Poilievre and the Conservatives voted against that help Canadians?”

I posted a graphic about bills Poilievre voted against, including the $10-a-day childcare bill, National School Food Program and Canada Child Benefit.

That’s the post that got me erased.

This increased my concerns even more about Poilievre and the Conservative Party. Why are they afraid of questions?

Poilievre too seems to seek to control the narrative, which is why he prefers YouTube videos, and medias like True North and Rebel News.

I believe it’s why he used an apple as a prop in an interview when he didn’t want to answer a reporter’s questions.

What are they hiding from Canadians? Why the obfuscation?

There are ramifications to policies that affect us all, and it’s crucial to look past the noise to understand what the Conservative agenda means for Canadians.

As I research the Conservative policies they have made public, I have questions. But unless we object to the constant distractions, we won’t discover what the Conservative agenda really is.

It’s time for all of us, regardless of political affiliation, to demand better from our elected officials.

Write to your MP, ask the tough questions and hold them accountable.

Transparency isn’t a privilege—it’s a right. Let’s ensure our voices are heard.

The 2025 federal election is happening on April 28th. Let us know what topics are most important to you for the Prince George – Peace River – Northern Rockies riding by taking our survey at https://energeticcity.ca/election