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Fair Vote Canada webinars

proportional representation 101 webinar

PR 101: proportional representation vs first past the post

Want to learn the basics of the campaign for proportional representation? What’s wrong with winner-take-all systems? What is proportional representation? How would it strengthen our democracy?

Join Fair Vote Canada for PR 101! We’ll look at proportional representation vs first past the post. A half hour presentation is followed by questions and answers in a small group setting.

Offered on the 15th of every month (except July and August). 1 PM Eastern if the date is on a weekend, 8 PM Eastern if the date is during the week. To register for any of the upcoming sessions, click the date below.

Spring 2024

Monday April 15, 8 PM ET

Wednesday May 15, 8 PM ET

Saturday June 15, 1 PM ET

 

Recordings of past Fair Vote Canada webinars

(Click the pictures below to watch the webinars. See more on our YouTube channel)

Citizens' Assemblies driving reform from the bottom up webinar

Sunday March 17, 7 PM ET: Making progress on electoral reform: Lessons learned and reasons for hope

What are the most important lessons the electoral reform movement has learned in our two decades of fighting for proportional representation? How can understanding these lessons make us stronger going forward? What progress has been made in Canada, and what evidence-based reasons are there to be hopeful?

Watch the webinar recording with one of Canada’s preeminent experts on voting system reform, Dennis Pilon of York University. Professor Pilon has spent decades researching the real world politics of how countries change their voting systems while closely following the campaign for electoral reform in Canada. 

Citizens' Assemblies driving reform from the bottom up webinar

Winning the vote on Motion M-86: A Citizen’s Assembly on Electoral Reform

Hear from NDP MP Lisa Marie Barron, sponsor of Motion M-86 for a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform, Liberal MP Julie Dzerowicz, and Green MP Mike Morrice about why they supported this motion to improve our democracy.

Watch a recording of this webinar here.

Citizens' Assemblies driving reform from the bottom up webinar

How did other democracies change their electoral systems?

Electoral reform expert Dennis Pilon looks at the real world politics behind how countries adopted proportional representation, the role of multi-party agreements, and what reformers can learn from history.

Associate Professor Dennis Pilon is author of two books and many chapters and journal articles on the history and politics of electoral reform in Canada and around the world.

Citizens' Assemblies driving reform from the bottom up webinar

Denmark’s democracy: what can we learn? 

Denmark ranks near the top of every democracy index in the world. In an era where satisfaction with democracy is declining all over the world, Denmark is one of seven countries where satisfaction is actually increasing. What are the Danes doing right? What can we learn from them as we work to make democracy in Canada fairer, more inclusive and more resilient? 

Citizens' Assemblies driving reform from the bottom up webinar

Myths, damn myths and voting system change

Is electoral reform really about “trade-offs” as so many academics have suggested? What about simplicity, accountability, stability and local representation?

Dennis Pilon explores how political scientists have perpetuated myths about electoral reform, and how to reframe the debate based on an honest look at history and the struggle for democracy.

Citizens' Assemblies driving reform from the bottom up webinar

Polarization in democracy: What’s happening and what can we do?

Political polarization and extremism in Canadian politics is on the rise. Many are concerned about the tone of our politics and the consequences of politicians from all sides who fan the flames of division. Our expert guests discussed the problems facing democracy and solutions that can bring people together.

 

Citizens' Assemblies driving reform from the bottom up webinar

Citizens’ Assemblies: Driving reform from the bottom up

Around the world, citizens’ assemblies are driving change on some of the most challenging issues of our time. How can citizens’ assemblies lead the way to a stronger, more inclusive democracy and usher in electoral reform?

electoral reform referendums webinar

Electoral reform referendums: A tool for informed decision-making?

This webinar takes a deep dive into some of the best research of the last 20 years, looking at the formidable forces that drive the vote in referendum campaigns. Referendums are not the politically-neutral, democratic tool that they are often presented as. Guest: Dr. Lawrence Leduc.

Alternative Vote ranked ballot webinar it's no solution

Alternative Vote: A solution to the democratic deficit?

Ontario Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca has recklessly vowed to force through winner-take-all ranked ballots (Alternative Vote) for Ontario—or he’ll resign.

What happens in Canada’s most populous province can have a profound impact on the national campaign for proportional representation for years to come.

Those who care passionately about seeing PR in Canada—equal votes, fair outcomes and cooperative politics—can’t afford to downplay, ignore or dismiss the Liberal’s ranked ballot scheme.

Learn the risks and consequences of the Alternative Vote (non-proportional “ranked ballot”).

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