October 2, 2024
Our Approach to Hosting an All-Candidates Meeting
At the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce, we are committed to remaining neutral and unbiased in all our activities, especially during election-related events such an All-Candidates Meeting.
With the upcoming Provincial Election, along with a City of Port Alberni By-Election, we maintain our role as a host and co-host to All Candidates Meetings. We've always seen great turnout at these events because people want to hear from the candidates directly.
To ensure fairness and transparency, we are undertaking the following steps:
- Equal Treatment of Candidates
All candidates running for office are invited to participate in our events. We ensure that each candidate is given equal speaking time and the same opportunities to share their platforms with the community. We do not endorse any candidate or political party. - Neutral Promotion
Our communications about election events will use objective, non-political language, with no favor or bias toward any specific candidate or party. - Impartial Moderation
A neutral moderator has been selected to facilitate the event. This individual will ensure that the rules are followed, giving each candidate equal time to speak and respond to questions. - Fair Questioning
The questions posed to candidates will focus on issues important to our community, and all candidates will have the opportunity to answer the same or equivalent questions. These questions will be prepared in advance to maintain neutrality.
There will be no open microphone or questions from the floor at the All-Candidates meeting. The public may participate in asking questions by submitting the questions before to a specified email that will be released closer to a confirmation of a planned meeting.
During the event, and time permitting, the Chamber may elect to use the Slido platform to engage a live audience at the All-Candidates meeting event. This platform will be monitored by staff at the event. All questions will be approved before being displayed to the moderator and the candidates. With this software, audience members will be able to submit questions and upvote the questions they want answered first.
- Transparency in Event Format
The format and rules of the event will be shared with all candidates ahead of time, and these rules will apply equally to all participants. Speaking order will be determined randomly or rotated to avoid any perception of favouritism.
- Separation of Personal Opinions
Chamber staff, board members, and event organizers will not express personal political opinions during any official Chamber activities, ensuring that personal views do not interfere with the Chamber’s commitment to neutrality. - Balanced Representation
If external experts or organizations are involved, we will ensure that they represent a wide range of perspectives and do not favor any specific political viewpoints. - Fair and Objective Post-Event Communication
Any follow-up materials, including reports or social media posts, will provide a factual and unbiased account of the event, ensuring equal representation of all candidates.
The Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce remains dedicated to fostering an informed and engaged electorate while upholding our responsibility to remain neutral and impartial throughout the election process.
At the time of this posting, only one candidate has confirmed their availability to participate in the Provincial Candidate meeting. As not all candidates are available for the original date planned, we are looking to reschedule if their availability allows.
A copy of the rules and procedures can be found here:
File
Stay tuned for future updates.
Jolleen Dick (she/her)
Chief Executive Officer
Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce
jolleen@albernichamber.ca
T: 250-724-6535
albernichamber.ca | portalbernivisitorcentre.ca
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