Politicians navigate world of tough calls

Thomas Huxley famously said that the purpose of an education was, “… to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it has to be done, whether you like it or not.”

Leaders making decisions at every level, from local school board members to our MPs, should reflect on that piece of wisdom regularly. Sometimes they need to follow that advice.

A perfect example of a politician doing what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, is Premier Wab Kinew’s decision to open a supervised drug consumption site in January. Kinew and Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith, who represents the area likely to house the site, have taken a stand — they have decided to do what is right whether everyone is happy about it or not.

Both of these politicians have heard the refrain “not in my backyard” many times on many issues, but they also know — probably more clearly than most — what needs to be done. Each day they are faced with the consequences of doing nothing. In this case, doing the easy thing — putting off making a decision to avoid the fallout from the voices in opposition to the plan — was rejected. They decided to act because the damage being done right now is too obvious and heartbreaking.

Sometimes the common good — what’s good for most of us — has to take precedence over the fears or expectations of a few. Every so often politicians surprise us and do the remarkable thing. They chart a course without trying to discern what the majority want, without trying to come to an acceptable compromise by juggling the interests and concerns of dozens of competing voices.

Sometimes, they simply do what needs to be done.

Being an elected official has always been a difficult job. Representing thousands of people is complicated. The complications include the fact that few problems have a single solution. Presenting alternative solutions, whether or not they have any merit, is easy. The fact is that often there is no simple solution. The right decision is not necessarily a perfect decision.

Voters rightly expect their elected officials to represent them. The most common refrain politicians hear is “you were elected to represent us.” People opposed to almost any proposition seem to think consultation is the end of the process. It is frequently only the beginning. Consultation usually involves those opposed to something as well as those supporting that same thing. For elected officials, it means that with every decision you make some friends and some enemies at the same time.

The opposition — both the official Opposition and the members of the public who oppose the location of the safe consumption site — are decrying the lack of consultation. Consultation has been extensive. The truth is that almost every decision must be made between two or more possible solutions. Even after lengthy consultations, there is always someone out there who feels betrayed or ignored, or worse, dismissed. Most politicians are prepared to at least listen to someone who disagrees them. The problem is that many constituents and protesters assume that the act of consultation will lead to agreement.

The public needs to appreciate that the act of consulting, even when it happens in substantial ways, does not necessarily lead to agreement with those consulted. Agreeing to consult does not mean acquiescence. Sometimes people asking for consultation, or demanding more consultation, have been heard and their views have simply been found wanting. Politicians, no matter their stripe, cannot satisfy everyone.

Politicians today face a different world. Over the years, some opposition to almost any proposal from government has been the norm. Unhappiness with aspects of any government policy or direction was expected. Town hall meetings and office visits were the most common form of protest or promotion of a government action. Twenty years ago, most MLAs responded to the occasional letter, phone call or email asking for help or asking for information. At one time, our elected officials faced a manageable flow of communication, generally, a simple communication between two people.

Today all politicians are inundated with calls, texts, emails, tweets — all of which can be shared with hundreds or thousands of others with the click of a button. Every decision, every comment, every word has to be parsed in the seconds it takes to formulate a response to a constituent or a reporter’s question. All of this makes it even harder to make a decision, because once you have stated an opinion, it is a matter of record and can, and likely will, be shared broadly. Changing any opinion, regardless of how casually it was formed, is dangerous business today.

A politician making decisions in the face of the new reality, acting decisively in the face of concerted opposition, is a significant event.

In this case, the premier and his government have decided that, notwithstanding the legitimate concerns of some local residents and vocal opponents, the damage being done — the thousands of lives lost in the last few years — is too great to be ignored.

Good for them.

Jerry Storie was the MLA for Flin Flon from 1981-1994.