It was 20 years ago today… This is not just the first line of a favourite Beatles song; it also symbolizes the quiet revolution that occurred in 2006. That was the year that began the world’s second modern citizens’ assembly. The Ontario Citizens Assembly on Electoral Reform sowed the seeds of a worldwide movement that… Continue reading “It was 20 years ago today….”
Category: Citizen Engagement
Yukon Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform
In the 2024, I was asked to help with the learning phase of the Yukon Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform. Like its Ontario and BC versions, this was a demographically diverse group of citizens assembled to learn, deliberate and make recommendations on what would be the ideal electoral system for the Yukon. One member was… Continue reading Yukon Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform
Who should decide if we have ranked voting in Kingston?
Mayor Paterson of Kingston recently posted an on-line poll to ask Kingstonians what they thought of the prospect of ranked ballots for municipal elections. While I think it’s a good idea for the Mayor to solicit feedback on such an important initiative, such polls can easily be hijacked by those in favour or opposed to… Continue reading Who should decide if we have ranked voting in Kingston?
#BankNotable
Today is International Women’s Day and Prime Minister Trudeau took the opportunity to announce that a woman (other than the Queen) would appear on a Canadian bank note. An Advisory Committee will recommend to the Governor of the Bank of Canada a suitable nominee. They will make that decision only after deliberating on choices made… Continue reading #BankNotable