Power Shifts

Every business needs to do politics.

To do politics, you need a plan. Specifically, a campaign plan.

Not for the output, for the input.

Because, let’s be honest: most plans are useless.

Every business is in the business of politics. Today’s example? Nintendo.

How can a video game producer become a political target? Oh, the possibilities are endless.

But today, let’s take a look at conflict minerals sourcing.

Joseph Lavoie, Jason Craik, and Hunter Knifton discuss the evolving political landscape in British Columbia, focusing on the upcoming election. They analyze the significance of electoral maps, demographic shifts, and the impact of voter turnout on the election outcome. The discussion highlights the importance of businesses understanding these dynamics to engage effectively in the political process and influence policy decisions. The conversation emphasizes the need for targeted strategies in campaigning and the role of demographics in shaping voter preferences.

Takeaways

In this episode, Jason Craig uses the example of a forest company to illustrate how maps overlay with political issues.

It's not enough to understand electoral maps at a riding or constituency level, you need to understand poll by poll, or house by house. But that has its own challenges.

This week I have two colleagues join to talk about electoral maps, with British Columbia serving as a real-time example of why these maps matter. Today's focus: demographic shifts.

Here’s the reality of securing a political win: You can’t do it unless you get a large market share.

Which means, at some point, what you campaign on, and what you present as your vision to voters needs to be practical.

Geopolitics can completely upend your business.

Case in point:

The US department of commerce announced this week that it wants the US to ban Chinese software and hardware for vehicles with a built-in internet connection, a move that would effectively ban Chinese vehicles in the US market.

Why does it matter, especially if you’re not in the automotive sector? Because it serves as a live example of how geopolitical developments can completely derail an entire industry.

I used to say that public affairs and public relations were different. I was wrong:

Public affairs and public relations are no longer separate fields.

They are the same.

Here's why.

This week, Prime Minister Trudeau lost two by-elections, one of which is in the fortress of Montreal, the second time he has lost a Liberal stronghold in the last three months.

Losing like this always hurts, even when the writing is on the wall, as it has been for some time now.

But the PM’s response is one that surprised me, because it’s one I’m used to hearing from corporate leaders, not elected officials.