The Persistence Tactic

Last week, we gained some concrete tactics on how to influence policy change from outside the government, hearing experiences from seasoned “outsiders.” One thing that really stuck out for me, while it may sound obvious out loud, was the persistence required to get an issue on the policy agenda.

One of our guest speakers, a journalist, explained that when he’s getting an issue on an agenda, he writes about it not once, but several times, persistently throughout time, to let his readers know that this is an issue that’s not going away until it’s addressed.

I think sometimes when we try to raise awareness and find that an issue doesn’t quite stick, we may have a tendency to say 1) that approach failed, or 2) there’s community apathy that’s beyond our control. But sometimes, those explanations may be an easy way out to abandon efforts to persist. Especially in an environment where every issue is an issue, and we are everyday bombarded with news and information, the policy landscape becomes a fierce competition for attention.

In our group project, we’re examining the increase of urban flood risks in Toronto due to climate change and intensive urbanization. While the media talks about flooding, it’s only talked about when it actually floods. Flooding as an issue is a “out of sight, out of mind” kind of issue. But, when that 100-year storm hits — and it will — the whole city, as it is now, will be woefully unequipped to deal with the consequences. To mobilize support for reform, persistence, allied with the media who can continue writing about it beyond once-off flood incidents, will be key to impact change.