The Great Canadian Debates Series 2012-2013 « Macdonald Laurier Institute

The Great Canadian Debates Series 2012-2013

THE EVENT

The Macdonald-Laurier Institute is pleased to announce The Great Canadian Debates, a series of four provocative debates exploring some of the most compelling issues to Canadians. Each debate will be presented at the Canadian War Museum and will feature well-known personalities and a moderator. Audience members are invited to get involved by posing questions during a Q&A session and voting for the winning argument. Following the debate, the evening also includes private access to the War Musem’s special exhibit.

THE LOCATION

Presented at the Canadian War Museum in the Barney Danson Theatre, 1 Vimy Place, Ottawa ON K1A 0M8.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are now available for the fourth debate, Resolved: Wealth has too much power in Canada:

- General admission tickets are $20 each
- Students and seniors may purchase tickets at a special rate of $15 each, but must provide ID upon entry.
- Members of the Canadian War Museum may also purchase tickets at $15 each and will be asked to present their membership card at the door
- *Note: It is recommended that you purchase tickets in advance as seating is limited and we cannot guarantee tickets will be available at the door.

TOPICS, DATES & SPEAKERS

Resolved: Canada no longer needs the CBC
Thursday, October 4, 2012 at 7:00 PM

Do Canadians still need the CBC in the era of the 200 channel universe, the 24-hour news cycle and competition from new media? Does the “Mother Corp” still matter? Ottawa Citizen columnist and one of Canada’s leading political commentators, Andrew Coyne, takes on Mark Starowicz, Executive Director of Documentary Programming for CBC Television and creator of As It Happens (CBC radio), a national institution, as well as Sunday Morning (CBC Radio) and The Journal (CBC Television). The moderator for the evening is Michael Bliss, Canadian historian, award-winning author and member of the Order of Canada.

Resolved: The War of 1812 has been over-hyped
Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 7:00 PM

Was the War of 1812 a pointless conflict not worth commemorating? Or a foundation stone for today’s Canada and United States that deserves a place of honour in our respective national memories? Jeffrey Simpson, The Globe and Mail’s national affairs columnist and winner of all three of Canada’s leading literary prizes, debates Jack Granatstein, Canadian historian and former director of the Canadian War Museum. The moderator is Michael Bliss, Canadian historian, award-winning author and member of the Order of Canada.

Resolved: The Liberal Party has no future in Canadian politics
Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 7:00 PM

With the Liberals weak in every region of Canada and now in third place in Parliament, is a permanent realignment coming in our politics? Would the country be better or worse off without the Liberal Party? In this debate, Canadian historian Michael Bliss faces off against John Duffy, former political advisor to Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin and Interim Leader Bob Rae. The moderator for this debate is Canadian historian Jack Granatstein.

*Please note: John Duffy will be replacing Eddie Goldenberg in this debate.

Resolved: Wealth has too much power in Canada
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 7:00 PM

Endless financial scandals, the Occupy movement, huge CEO salaries – has the time come to reassess our capitalist system and values? Is it time to cut the 1% down to size? Armine Yalnizyan, senior economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, goes head-to-head against William Watson, Professor of economics at McGill University and regular columnist in the National Post and Ottawa Citizen. The moderator for the evening is Canadian historian Jack Granatstein.

Resolved: The Government of Quebec can decide unilaterally to secede from Canada”

Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 7:00 pm

At the heart of debates over Quebec’s future and its status within Confederation lies a hotly contested question: who will decide? Following the last referendum on Quebec sovereignty the federal government referred this very question to the Supreme Court of Canada. Following the Supreme Court’s decision, Ottawa enacted the Clarity Act, which lays down ground rules regarding both future referenda and any negotiations on sovereignty that might ensue. For its part, Quebec’s national Assembly passed a law stating categorically that the province’s political future is a decision that belongs entirely to Quebeckers. In this Special Great Canadian Debate, the Hon. Stéphane Dion, former leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Cabinet Minister, and framer of Canada’s Clarity Act will trade rhetorical blows with Daniel Turp; former Member of Parliament for the Bloc Quebecois and former Member of the National Assembly with the Parti Quebecois over the question of who is entitled to participate in decisions over Quebec’s standing in Confederation. The moderator for this debate will be Jack Granatstein.

Note: The debates will be in English and simultaneous translation in French will be available courtesy of the Canadian War Museum.

Download the 2012-2013 Great Canadian Debates poster here!

CONTACT

For more information, please contact Amanda Brown, Office and Events Manager at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, at (613) 482-8327 ext. 101 or amanda.brown@macdonaldlaurier.ca

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