University of Manitoba - Centre for Defence and Security Studies - John Wesley Dafoe PSSC 2016 Conference - "Elections: Democratic Tools or Democracy Denied?"
John Wesley Dafoe PSSC 2016 Conference - "Elections: Democratic Tools or Democracy Denied?"

27 – 29 January 2016
Great Hall, University College
Elections: Democratic Tools or Democracy Denied?
(please click the title to see the poster)

Student Organizers
Mr. Alexander Rudolph, undergraduate (Political Studies)
Ms. Ashley Evans, undergraduate (Political Studies)
Mr. Eric Fleming, undergraduate (Political Studies)
Ms. Shreya Ghimire, undergraduate (Political Studies)

Conference Summary
This free, public conference is addresses questions of representation and participation in elections, the conduct of elections on the international stage, future challenges for elections in the Canadian context, the role of public opinion polling, and campaigns in the twenty-first century.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

The Paul Buteux Lecture: Dr. David Coletto, Abacus Data (McNally Robinson Booksellers)
7pm – 7:45pm talk. 7:45pm – 8:15pm Q and A.
“Canadian Public Opinion: What we know, where it's going, and why it matters”

Public opinion polling is a critical part of elections in 21st century Canada. What we have learned from election polling, particularly in the last federal election? How we might expect Canadians' opinions concerning democracy and elections to change in the next few years? What do Canadians think were the key issues during the federal election, and what matters to them going forward?

Thursday, January 28, 2016 University College Great Hall

 

Introductions 9:30 -10:00am

 

Panel One: Election Campaigns in the 21st Century 10:00 – 11:30

Mr. Paul Samyn

Dafoe Foundation, Winnipeg Free Press

Moderator

Ms. Laura Anthony

SAMARA

Citizen engagement in elections

Dr. Harold Jansen

University of Lethbridge

Election financing

Dr. Royce Koop

University of Manitoba

Political parties and elections

 

Roundtable:

100 Years of Women’s Suffrage in Manitoba 11:45 – 12:45 pm

 

Panel Two: Public Opinion Polling 1:00 – 2:30pm

Mr. Richard Cloutier

CJOB Radio

Moderator

Dr. Christopher Adams

University of Manitoba

How Public opinion research has developed and where it’s going

Mr. Scott MacKay

President, Probe Research Inc.

Practitioner’s perspective: election polling

Ms. Mary Agnes Welch

Winnipeg Free Press

Media and Polling

 

Panel Three:

Participation and Representaion in Elections 2:45- 4:30 pm

(Sponsored by the Duff Roblin Professor of Government)

Dr. Jodi Giesbrecht

CMHR

Moderator

Dr. Kiera Ladner

Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Governance, University of Manitoba

Aboriginal peoples’ participation in elections

Dr. Brenda O’Neill

University of Calgary

Women and elections

Dr. Dino Bozonelos

Victor Valley College, California

Religious minorities and political participation in the United States

 

Friday, January 29th, 2016, University College, Great Hall

 

Panel four: Conducting Elections on the International Stage 9:30 - 11:00am

Mr. Christopher J. Gunning

US Consul

Moderator

Mr. Denys Volkov

Election Practitioner: Observer/Director of Communications

Election observing in Eastern Europe

Dr. Paul Sum

North Dakota University, Grand Forks

Elections in Romania

Dr. Tami Jacoby

University of Manitoba

Elections in Israel

 

Panel Five: Future Challenges for Elections 11:30 – 1:15

Dr. Barry Ferguson

University of Manitoba; Duff Roblin Professor of Government

Moderator

Dr. Jonathan Rose

Queen’s University; Former Director, Ontario Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform

Citizen perspectives on reforming the electoral system

Mr. Richard Balasko

Former CEO, Elections Manitoba

Challenges facing elections agencies

Dr. Tamara Small

University of Guelph

Social media and

e-technology in elections.

 

 

For more details, email pssc@umanitoba.ca

About PSSC

Map/Directions

For more information, contact:
Political Studies Student Conference
525 Fletcher Argue,
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3T 5V5

PH: (204) 272-1691
Email: pssc@umanitoba.ca 

Thank you to all of our sponsors:

J.W. Dafoe Foundation
University of Manitoba Arts Endowment Fund
Dean, Faculty of Arts
Duff Roblin Professorship of Government
Department of Political Studies
Department of Sociology
Canadian Studies
St. John’s College
St. Paul’s College
University of Manitoba Students’ Union
Canadian International Council – Winnipeg Branch
Arts Student Body Council
Manitoba Institute for Policy Research