Dear Editor,
[Re: Restaurant harassed for hosting Poilievre, Jan. 12, www.mapleridgenews.com]
I was sad to see a wonderful local restaurant, Ronny’s Bistro, be tossed around like a political football last month.
Once the match is over, I hope Ronny’s is not left on the sideline.
What happened? According to the restaurant owner – still the most credible voice in all of this –someone booked them for an event. They didn’t tell her it was political in nature and they certainly didn’t say anything about Pierre Poillievre being the guest of honour. Why not?
It’s common courtesy and standard practice to give a business a heads up that an event is political.
When Canadian flags started showing up and then Mr. Poilievre himself, the owner had no time to consider how to handle the event from a PR perspective. She was understandably proud to have been chosen and posted about it on social media.
Then there was backlash.
The News reported, “the harassment went from one-star reviews and slanderous comments on Google, to online talk about boycotting her business.”
This is painful for any business to experience, but in these divisive times is anyone surprised?
When then PM Trudeau visited local businesses in the era of F-Trudeau bumper stickers, was there not backlash against those businesses? At least they were given a choice and time to prepare.
Ronny’s was not.
Mr. Poilievre is a divisive figure.
We are watching entirely justified civil protest in the United States because a fascist militia is killing people in the streets. Many Canadians are looking for ways to do more to help that struggle. Many view Mr. Poilievre as being politically aligned with Donald Trump.
Tensions are high and while attacking an innocent local business may be wrong, it was whoever didn’t give the venue a heads up that set the stage for conflict.
Whether it was local organizers or Poilievre’s team, whoever was responsible for not sharing who was coming for dinner, our local Conservatives picked up their queue like professionals.
The attacks and negative comments levelled at Ronny’s were removed quickly (which is good) but the counter-narrative lives on. Sifting through social media gives the impression that Ronny’s Bistro supports the Conservative Party of Canada and because of this they were mercilessly attacked by “liberals.”
It’s brilliant politics really. The more Conservative supporters rally around Ronny’s Bistro – noble defenders standing up to bullying – the more people believe there may be large liberal mobs roaming around threatening businesses.
Meanwhile, Ronny’s Bistro has been clear that it is a non-political business that is welcoming to everyone. Therefore, I’m calling for everyone to return this lovely restaurant to political neutrality.
Let this tempest in a teacup result in one good thing: more business for this and other local restaurants.
To the local CPC, next time, please give the venue you are booking a little more information so they can prepare for your party appropriately.
James Rowley, Maple Ridge
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