Wild Rose MP Blake Richards will be breaking technological ground in his effort to gain feedback on the federal government’s proposed budget.
On Jan. 21, Richards will hold the riding’s first ever Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) tele-town hall.
The new technology will allow Richards to speak to a wider range and larger number of his constituents, and will not only enable the MP to receive information from voters, but also, participants will be able to pose questions as well.
“Participants will be connected over a period of about five minutes,” Richards explained. “As this continues, I will be providing an overview of the federal government’s budgeting process. Once all the participants have joined the event, I will open the floor to questions and comments.”
The conversation is expected to last a total of 45 minutes.
Wild Rose residents will be contacted via telephone sometime during the evening of Jan. 21 and asked to take part in the tele-town hall.
Russ Lyster, director of operations for Richards’ office, said they are unsure how many will participate in the event, as this is the first time they have attempted such a method, but Richards is confident the many will take part.
“This sort of event is unprecedented in Wild Rose,” he said, “it’s never been done in this federal riding. We are expecting several thousand people to participate, so I encourage those who want to ensure they can take part to provide my office with their contact information prior to the event.”
To ask a questions during the town hall, participants will be able to provide feedback in real-time by connecting with an operator, who will be acting as the facilitator for the event.
“This capability empowers grassroots democracy, which is good news for all Canadians,” said Richards. “It’s also an extremely useful tool for those MPs who choose to put the concerns of their constituents first.”
To book a spot in the tele-town hall, contact Richards’ office at 1-800-667-0410 or email [email protected].
