O'Toole presents his ideas to try to assist desperate Afghan allies

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He has some ideas to try to help Afghanistan.

Conservative leader Erin O’Toole released a video statement Thursday evening about the increasingly dire situation unfolding in Afghanistan and outlined what he would do to help its people; some of whom are desperately trying to make it to Canada.

“We could be doing more, we should be doing more,” O’Toole said in the almost four-minute video.

“We need a plan to help as many of these people as possible.”

He then outlined three ways Canada could help.

O’Toole urged working with any allies to help those trying to flee, working  with countries like India to establish corridors of escape, and providing political and material support to Afghans fighting the Taliban.

Marketing and communications expert Tony Chapman said he liked the video, but would have made some changes.

“It’s refreshing to hear an actual plan versus the rhetoric that has been spun the last six years.  So high marks for that,” Chapman said.

“The three-point plan — especially the first two points and getting as granular as identifying India as a country that can help.”

Among the things Chapman says he would have done differently — make the video much shorter.

The video is 3 minutes and 46-seconds.

Chapman said it would have been more effective if it were about 45 to 60 seconds.

“The points are buried at the back. In this era of stackable content, 95% of the people would have left the video by then.  The points should have been up front.” Chapman said.

He also added that the campaign could have made a few stylistic adjustments.

“And I am so tired of the podium, suit and tie and flags as the stage.  Get O’Toole talking from the heart on a park bench, not reading a teleprompter,” the branding expert stated.

The O’Toole video received attention online including reaction in a tweet from retired Vice-Admiral Mark Norman who tweeted, “This is a compelling expression of leadership and statesmanship. Well said”.

When asked about O’Toole’s ideas on how to help Afghanistan,  Liberal leader Justin Trudeau said “Erin O’Toole is talking about doing more in Afghanistan, but not to being generous the way Canada has always been with government-sponsored refugees.  I think people can read between the lines and understand what his perspective is on that.”