Elect Ellen Michelson

Thoughtful audience, worthwhile discussion for the talk described in the post below this one; here’s the video.

For the lecture series schedule, and videos of the talks, as they become available, please click here.

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Metta Spencer, President, Science for Peace and Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto, organizes a free lecture series every year, called Vital Discussions of Human Security. This year, I’m one of the speakers. Here are the details.

Topic – Fixing Canada’s Electoral System: Four Fallacies
Date & Time – Thursday, September 20, 7-9pm
Location – University College, University of Toronto, 15 King’s College Circle, Room 052 (east end of building, basement)

Topics I’ll explore include:

Two hours means plenty of time for discussion – please join us.

For details on the full lecture series, which runs from September 13 through April 4, 2013, please click here.

The series is co-sponsored by University College Health Studies Programme, Canadian Pugwash Group, Voice of Women for Peace, and Science for Peace. The lectures are all free of charge, and promise much food for thought.

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Invitation from Fair Vote Canada, Toronto:
“PR 101: A Crash Course in Proportional Representation

As part of Democracy Day, we invite you to attend PR101.

We’ll explore the flaws of our current voting system, and introduce you to various forms of Proportional Representation. PR is the most common electoral system in the world, because it guarantees that all votes count, and that all voices are heard. We’ll look at models including Regional List, Mixed Member Proportional, and the Single Transferable Vote. We’ll also give you insight on how politicians adapt to a PR system. If you want to become an advocate for democratic renewal, this is the place to start.

Special guests: Wayne Smith, Executive Director of FairVote Canada and Ellen Michelson, Green Party Toronto Centre.”

7pm, 215 Spadina Avenue (Centre for Social Innovation)
All Welcome – Free of Charge

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The Green Party will be in the parade, starting at 11am, from High Park, and among the speakers, I’ll be bringing greetings on behalf of Elizabeth.

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On Sunday, September 9, we’ll be at our Green Party table, looking forward to chatting with you – please stop by.

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Please come by the Toronto Centre Greens’ table for a chat, a freeze-pop, a spider plantlet and more. Sunday in the Park is so enjoyable, every year.
Lord Dufferin School, west side of Parliament south of Gerrard, from noon, this Sunday, July 8

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The Canadian Electoral Alliance is growing! Attendees at the first Democracy Salon decided to plan a public town hall panel discussion. Questions to be explored could include:
* what is the role of electoral reform in the 2015 election?
* how is cross-party cooperation different from merging political parties?
* where do social and environmental issues fit into this discussion?

Please come to the next meeting to help plan this panel.
Wednesday evening, June 27, 6:30-8:30 pm
Alterna Savings Meeting Room, 4th floor, Centre for Social Innovation,
215 Spadina Ave.

At our first meeting, some people had difficulty getting into the building. If the front door is locked, and no volunteer to guide you to the meeting is in view, please call 647-502-7322, and someone will come down and let you in.

more info on this meeting: Second Democracy Salon

Questions? Comments? [email protected]

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A number of groups have been forming across Canada, in response to the fact that only 39% of those who voted last spring elected a majority government. Some groups are focusing on electoral reform, some on cross-party cooperation, some on planning specifically for the 2015 election, while others see these strategies as means to the end of affecting government policies on environmental responsibility, social justice, arts and culture, and more.

In Toronto, a group started forming this past fall that decided to call itself the Canadian Electoral Alliance. I was invited to participate, to enable Green Party of Canada policies and concerns to be heard. I was mostly in Ottawa then, volunteering for Elizabeth in her parliamentary office; Elizabeth enthusiastically clarified policies she was pleased to have me convey, at the meetings I was able to attend on my weekend trips to Toronto. (Once, when I couldn’t be here, the group even enabled me to participate by telephone from Ottawa.)

The Alliance, here in Toronto, is keen to reach all who have concerns about the future of Canada. You can learn more about the Alliance at www.electoralalliance.ca and reach the Alliance at [email protected] .

The Alliance’s first Democracy Salon is this coming
Wednesday evening, June 6, 6:30-8:30 pm,
Alterna Savings Meeting Room, 4th floor, Centre for Social Innovation,
215 Spadina Ave.
If the front door of the building is locked, you can enter via the café at the south end of the building. The Alterna Room is on the right, once you pass the information desk on the fourth floor.

John Bessai, the alliance chair, will be leading the meeting’s programme. We’ll be sharing ideas, and also fresh iced mint tea, from the plants that have just about taken over my balcony.

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“Right now, Parliament is pushing through a bill to weaken many of the country’s most important environmental protection measures and silence the voices of all Canadians who seek to defend nature.”
One way I can show concern is to darken this website today, June 4. As I don’t have the know-how to do that, I’m trying to publicize this issue here instead.
Click here for info.

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