Democracy Dialogues Season 4

This free virtual series asks what it takes to build a vibrant, responsive and inclusive democracy in Canada. The objective of the series is to answer some of the biggest questions and concerns we have about democracy, political power, and our capacity for a just and effective response to societal challenges. At The Democratic Engagement Exchange, we bring together innovative community leaders, dedicated public servants, and leading scholars from across Canada.

Episode 1:

Citizen Centered Democracy: Lessons from the 2021 Citizens’ Assembly on Democratic Expression

DATE: Tuesday, January 25

with

Peter Macleod, Founder & Principal at Mass LBP

Lisa Semchuk, Commission Secreteriat & Policy Associate, Public Policy Forum

Dawn Sugimoto, Citizens Assembly Representative (Lethbridge, Alberta)

Olivier Emond-Godin, Citizens Assembly Representative (Yellowknife, Northwest Territories)

TIME: 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM EST

Citizens’ assemblies are built on the belief that ordinary citizens, when given the knowledge, resources, and time, can work together to find solutions to complex and challenging issues. This idea that started in ancient Athens is now being put to the test around the world.

In Canada, the Canadian Commission on Democratic Expression was established in spring 2020 with a three-year mandate to better understand, anticipate, and respond to the effects of new digital technologies on public life and Canadian democracy. A Citizen Assembly is one tool the Commission is using to develop solutions to this critical issue.

The 2021 Citizens’ Assembly on Democratic Expression considers whether and under what circumstances legal penalties or other consequences should be applied against individuals or organizations that knowingly spread false information online with the intent to cause harm.

Join us on Tuesday January 25, as our host Victoria Kuketz explores Citizens Assemblies in more detail with deliberative democracy expert Peter Macloed, as well as 2 representatives and a commissioner from the DemX Panel to learn more about their experiences on the Commission, what they’ve achieved and what the future of Citizens Assemblies in Canada looks like.

About our speakers

Peter MacLeod is the founder and principal of MASS LBP, and one of Canada’s leading experts in public engagement and deliberative democracy. Since its founding in 2007, MASS has completed more than 200 major policy projects for governments and public agencies across Canada while popularizing the use of Civic Lotteries and Citizen Reference Panels and earning international recognition for its work.

Peter frequently writes and speaks about the citizen’s experience of the state, the importance of public imagination, and the future of responsible government.

A graduate of the University of Toronto and Queen’s University, he is an Action Canada fellow (2003) and a recipient of the Public Policy Forum’s Emerging Leaders Award (2008). In 2013, he launched Wagemark, the first international wage certification standard aimed at reducing workplace pay disparities while promoting corporate competitiveness. He was also appointed to serve on the Ontario government’s open government task force. He is the past chair of Toronto’s Wellesley Institute for Urban Health, and currently serves on the boards of Makeway, an environmental charity, as well as the Environics Institute and the YMCA of Greater Toronto. He is also an adjunct lecturer at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto

Lisa Semchuk is a Policy Associate with the Public Policy Forum. Her career passions are sharing knowledge and creating awareness of, or engagement with, new ideas. She seeks to analyze information, explore social trends, and apply insights to make informed decisions.

Lisa is curious about people, their stories, and experiences, which has led her to research topics from the ancient past to modern times as an anthropologist. She has applied her research abilities in the fields of public policy, career development, and heritage. She has worked on a variety of research projects from preparing young people for the future of work, to best practices in Indigenous employment and skills training initiatives, to examining how to mitigate online disinformation and hate speech while protecting Canadians’ democratic expression online. Prior to joining PPF, Lisa completed the RBC Career Launch Program and worked as a Project Analyst with the Canadian Career Development Foundation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Manitoba, and a Master of Arts in Anthropology from McMaster University.

Dawn Sugimoto was born and raised in southern Alberta. She spent two decades in print journalism and is a former managing editor of the Lethbridge Herald where she was an award-winning reporter and editor. Journalism provided an opportunity to explore interests in health care, local history and politics. Since 2009, she has worked in communications, first in a K-12 school system and now at a post-secondary institution. She continues to enjoy the great privilege of learning and writing about interesting people and subjects.

Olivier Emond-Godin is from La Malbaie, Quebec. He and his wife Kelsey had their first child last September. Olivier joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2014 and currently works as a line technician in Yellowknife. Olivier has great interest in philosophy, psychology, history, mythology, and theology. He believes the path for a meaningful life is a combination of great responsibilities, high and defined goals, and rigorous honesty toward yourself and others. These are the reasons he joined the Forces and answered yes to the Assembly on Democratic Expression. Being out of his comfort zone, serving others, taking on responsibilities, and overcoming challenges gives order and structure to his life, guiding him in trying to improve things in his community.