Canada and Cuba in the context of expanding global authoritarianism
2022-11-15 12:30 - 14:00 (America/Toronto)
Cuba today is experiencing a unique historical moment. For the first time in more than six decades, a new generation of young people have started to demand their rights in a public and peaceful way. This nascent culture of peaceful resistance requires international support and solidarity to be successful.
The Cuban regime through its repressive actions and systematic human rights violations directly threatens key Canadian values and interests, such as the rule of law, democracy, and the existence of an open and pluralistic society. It oppresses its own people, supports the geopolitical interests and anti-democratic goals of Russia, China, and Iran and exports its repressive system to Venezuela and other nations. The Cuban regime’s links to global authoritarianism and its detrimental impact on democracy, the rule of law, justice, human rights, and civil society require urgent analysis and debate.
We believe it is time to rethink Canadian foreign policy to better serve the promotion of human rights and democracy in Cuba. Indeed, Canada has numerous tools at its disposal to effect change, including the application of targeted sanctions on high-ranking officials responsible for human rights abuses in Cuba.
With its tradition of speaking truth to power in the face of authoritarian regimes, MLI can make a difference in influencing civil society, the media and the government in Canada to encourage solidarity with the people of Cuba in their demands for freedom.
Event details:

When: Tuesday, November 15th from 12:30 – 2:00 pm ET
Where: Kildare House, 323 Chapel Street, Ottawa, ON, K1N 7Z2

Light food will be provided to guests. Please notify of any food allergies or dietary restrictions when registering.
Speakers:

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On the frontline of European democracy: A conversation with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
2022-11-21 10:00 - 11:30
Not since the end of the Cold War has democracy in Europe been so imperilled by authoritarians. Following its corrupt and fraud-mired 2020 election, Belarus has slid further into repression. A mass protest movement of Belarusians sought to challenge the illegitimate election results, but the regime brought its brutality to bear to quash all democratic opposition. Now strongman President Alexander Lukashenko serves as one of Vladimir Putin’s few close allies in his attempt to subjugate Ukraine.
Yet Belarusians have rallied around Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the ex-presidential candidate and wife of jailed opposition leader Sergei Tsikhanousky. She now fights for Belarusian rights and the democratic aspirations of her people as the leader of Belarusian democratic forces and through her work toward facilitating a democratic transition in Belarus.
To discuss the invaluable role played by Europe’s frontline champions of democracy, MLI is honoured to host a discussion with the National Leader of Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. This conversation will be both an in-person event and live-streamed.
Event details:

When: Monday, November 21st from 10:00 am – 11:30 am ET
Doors open : 9:30 am ET
Where: Kildare House, 323 Chapel Street, Ottawa, ON, K1N 7Z2

Light food will be provided to guests.
Speakers:

Balkan Devlen, Senior Fellow, Macdonald-Laurier Institute (Welcoming remarks)
Hon. John McKay, Member of Parliament, House of Commons (Keynote remarks)
Paul Wells, Journalist and Author
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, National Leader of Belarus

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Bolstering the Role of ASEAN in the Indo-Pacific: Implications for Canada
2022-12-07 20:00 - 21:30
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The development of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) underscores for the first time some of the organization’s shared values and norms in the context of the Indo-Pacific. AOIP is the way in which ASEAN envisions the Indo-Pacific and the guiding principles for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
This is not an insignificant development. With cooperation and partnership as key principles of AOIP, it adds weight to the growing consensus that there is room for ASEAN as the region’s central hub within the broader Indo-Pacific region.
Yet, despite having a key interest in a stable and rules-based region, Canada seems late to the Indo-Pacific game. It’s time for a paradigm shift, and for Canada – along with its traditional partners and allies – to assertively promote its interests in the Indo-Pacific. The amity between Canada and ASEAN should be an ace card for Canada to use in the game as it is a testament to the recognition of ASEAN centrality.
To shed light on these issues, MLI will host an event with experts from Canada and like-minded countries to discuss the role of ASEAN and AOIP.

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Time: 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm EDT

Please note, that all registered attendees will receive a post-event recording of the webinar. If you are unable to tune in live, you can watch the recording at your convenience.

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Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy: What next?
2022-12-14 20:00 - 21:30
Canada released its long-awaited Indo-Pacific Strategy in late November attempting to craft out a long term vision for the region. The document referred to China as a “disruptive” actor in the region and internationally. It also indicated a need for Canada to work more closely with like-minded partners in the region. While recognition of the region’s challenges and opportunities is long overdue, at the end of the day words will matter little if concrete actions over the long term are not implemented.
Join this quick reaction panel of Indo-Pacific experts to discuss the future of Canada’s engagement in the region.
Speakers

Jonathan Berkshire Miller, Director and Senior Fellow, MLI
Kyoko Kuwahara, Visiting Fellow, MLI
Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, Senior Fellow, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa
Jeff Kucharski, Senior Fellow, MLI
Elliot Tepper, Professor, Carleton University
Stephen Nagy, Senior Fellow, MLI
James Boutilier, Distinguished Fellow, MLI
Scott Simon, Senior Fellow, MLI
Charles Burton, Senior Fellow, MLI

Race to resources? Canada's new critical minerals strategy and its implications
2023-01-17 11:00 - 12:00
In December, Canada recently released its long-awaited critical minerals strategy. How will this new approach affect Canada’s ability to leverage these important natural resources – and how interested are our allies in working with Canada for our mutual benefit and security? Will it be enough to spark new investment and confidence in operating in Canada?
MLI Domestic Policy Director Aaron Wudrick will moderate a panel featuring MLI Senior Fellows Heather Exner-Pirot and Jeff Kucharski and Rikkyo University Professor Andrew DeWit to discuss what Canada’s new critical minerals strategy could yield going forward.

Event Details:

Date: Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm ET

Please note, that all registered attendees will receive a post-event recording of the webinar. If you are unable to tune in live, you can watch the recording at your convenience.

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Defending democracies from disinformation: A new imperative for Canada-Japan strategic cooperation
2023-02-02 08:00 - 09:30
Canada has begun placing greater emphasis on security in the Indo-Pacific, including greater recognition of the threat posed by China. Chinese influence operations and possible disinformation campaigns are increasingly viewed with concern. Although perhaps a less serious problem than faced by countries like the US or Taiwan, Canada remains vulnerable to such foreign disinformation efforts.
International cooperation is needed to fight against foreign disinformation. Canada has shown its willingness to cooperate with key allies, including G7 countries and its partners in the Indo-Pacific, to combat the spread of disinformation. Japan, which is Canada’s only G7 partner in the Indo-Pacific, will be hosting a G7 summit under its presidency in Hiroshima in 2023. As such, Canada-Japan cooperation against disinformation could be further increased between the two countries.
The Macdonald-Laurier Institute, with the support of the Japan Foundation Toronto and in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan, will convene a group of experts to examine the current state of disinformation threats and countermeasures/ practices in Canada and Japan. The panel will also discuss the potential for Canada-Japan cooperation in fighting against potential disinformation campaigns.

Event Details:

Date: Thursday, February 2, 2023
Time: 8:00 am – 9:30 am ET

Please note, that all registered attendees will receive a post-event recording of the webinar. If you are unable to tune in live, you can watch the recording at your convenience.

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New tools or new competitors? The future of competition law in Canada
2023-02-09 11:30 - 12:30
The rise of the digital economy has opened up an important debate: Does Canadian competition policy need a fundamental overhaul or simply updating at the margins? Are new regulatory tools required – or should we look to an untapped source of additional competition from outside our borders?
Join us as our panel of experts debates the best path forward for Canadian competition policy.

Event Details:

Date: Thursday, February 9, 2023
Time: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm ET

Please note, that all registered attendees will receive a post-event recording of the webinar. If you are unable to tune in live, you can watch the recording at your convenience.

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Holding the Kremlin to account: A special international tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine
2023-02-10 09:00 - 10:00
On January 19th, the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in support of creating an international tribunal to hold the Russian government to account for its invasion of Ukraine and the government of Belarus for supporting Russia’s aggression. Canada and its Baltic allies are among the leading global supporters of Ukraine’s freedom and sovereignty.
The Macdonald-Laurier Institute, in partnership with the Embassy of Ukraine in Ottawa, and the Raoul Wallenberg Centre For Human Rights will host this international discussion to focus on the need to hold the Russian government to account for its actions and how Ukraine, Canada and its Baltic allies can forge a path towards justice and accountability.

Event Details:

Date: Friday, February 10, 2023
Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 am ET

Please note, that all registered attendees will receive a post-event recording of the webinar. If you are unable to tune in live, you can watch the recording at your convenience.

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Finding a good fit: Indigenous peoples and small modular reactors
2023-03-09 12:00 - 13:15
In recent years, novel reactor technologies, commonly referred to as small modular reactors (SMRs), have emerged that can supply power to electrical grids or to remote, off-grid areas. Although they vary in size, SMRs are typically smaller than conventional nuclear reactors and are designed to be manufactured at a plant and then transported to a site to be installed. As such they are expected to be cheaper to build, scalable to meet specific industrial and remote community needs and provide a reliable source of clean energy.
Because remote communities are a promising setting for SMRs, early inclusion of Indigenous peoples is essential to their eventual social acceptance and successful implementation. In Canada, Indigenous communities are already engaged across the nuclear supply chain, from uranium mining to conventional reactor siting to nuclear waste management. An opportunity exists for SMRs to provide added economic opportunity, environmental alignment and energy security for Indigenous communities if done correctly.
This webinar will bring together a panel of Indigenous voices to explore the current status of Indigenous engagement in Canada’s nuclear renaissance, discuss concerns that still need to be addressed, and identify economic opportunities for Indigenous peoples in the burgeoning sector.

Event Details:

Date: Thursday, March 9, 2023
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm ET

Please note, that all registered attendees will receive a post-event recording of the webinar. If you are unable to tune in live, you can watch the recording at your convenience.

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A third way for drug addiction policy in Canada
2023-03-21 11:00 - 13:00
As the opioid crisis continues to ravage much of North America, policy-makers continue to debate the best way not just to save lives, but to get lives back on track. Join us for a conversation with Stanford University’s Professor Keith Humphreys, former White House Drug Policy Advisor in the Bush and Obama administrations, and Blair Gibbs, a policy consultant who served as senior adviser to former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, to discuss the divergent approaches to the opioid crisis being taken in British Columbia and Alberta, and outline some of the successes and challenges in both jurisdictions. The discussion will be moderated by Aaron Wudrick, Director of Domestic Policy Program at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI).
Event details:

When: Tuesday, March 21st, from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm ET
Where: Kildare House, 323 Chapel Street, Ottawa, ON, K1N 7Z2

There will be light food provided. Please notify of any food allergies or dietary restrictions when registering.
Event schedule:

11:00 am: Doors open and guests arrive
11:15 am: Welcoming remarks and armchair conversation begins
11:45 am: Q&A with the audience
12:15 pm: Conversation ends and reception with light lunch opens
1:00 pm: End of event

Speakers:

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FAQs
Is advance registration required for this event?
Yes, please register in advance through Eventbrite if you would like to attend the event in person. Please note that there are limited seats, so please register to save yourself a spot. There is also a ticket option to recieve the post-event recording.
Will this event be recorded?
Yes, the event will be recorded and made publicly available after the event.
If you would like to receive a copy of the recording once it is ready, you can register for the “Virtual (post-event recording)” ticket type. By registering, you will also have the opportunity to submit questions for the panels in advance of the event. Please note this event is not livestreamed.
Is parking available for this event?
We have obtained a special events parking permit which will allow overtime parking where parking is allowed. Registered in-person attendees will receive an email the day prior with the parking permit. Printed copies will also be available on-site.
How can I contact the organizer with any questions?
If you have any questions, please contact events@macdonaldlaurier.ca.

The origin of COVID-19: The debate opens up
2023-03-30 14:30 - 16:00
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Where did COVID-19 come from? For a long time after the outbreak of the global pandemic, even posing this question was considered controversial. But several voices have long challenged the assertion that the virus has a zoonotic (animal) origin from a natural setting – and instead argue there are strong arguments in support of the theory that it escaped from a laboratory setting.
Join MLI Domestic Policy Director Aaron Wudrick in conversation with Dr. Alina Chan and Matt Ridley, authors of the revised and updated paperback edition of Viral: The Search for the Origin of COVID-19, as they discuss the evolution of the public debate on the virus’ origin, and new evidence which has come to light in support of the lab leak theory.

Event Details:

Date: Thursday, March 30, 2023
Time: 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm ET

Please note, that all registered attendees will receive a post-event recording of the webinar. If you are unable to tune in live, you can watch the recording at your convenience.

Speakers

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Carbon tech, carbon capture: Turning the CO2 threat into an opportunity
2023-04-20 12:00 - 13:15
Carbon emissions are causing climate changes. Figuring out ways to produce oil, gas, hydrogen, steel, petrochemicals, fertilizer and other products without releasing CO2 into the atmosphere is one of the biggest challenges of our times. A suite of technologies known as carbon capture, utilisation and sequestration, (CCUS) can contribute both to reducing emissions in hard-to-abate sectors, and removing CO2 to balance emissions that cannot be avoided.
As Secretary-General of the International Energy Agency Fatih Birol has identified, “Without CCUS, our energy and climate goals will become virtually impossible to reach.”
Canada is host to a number of major initiatives that are demonstrating novel CCUS technologies with implications beyond our borders. These include the Carbon Trunk Line, Boundary Dam project, Pathways Alliance and Edmonton Hydrogen Hub. In addition, new carbon tech approaches to develop productive uses out of carbon dioxide, often referred to as ‘carbon-to-value,’ are emerging in Western Canada that are attracting serious investment and attention.
This webinar will bring together leaders in the field to review major initiatives for capturing carbon in Alberta and Saskatchewan; discuss the economic opportunities in carbon tech and assess the burgeoning Canadian sector; and outline the incentives framework for CCUS in Canada and other comparator jurisdictions.

Event Details:

Date: Thursday, April 20, 2023
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm ET

Please note, that all registered attendees will receive a post-event recording of the webinar. If you are unable to tune in live, you can watch the recording at your convenience.

Speakers

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Repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery: A symbolic act or a new beginning with Indigenous Peoples?
2023-05-15 12:00 - 13:00
For generations, Indigenous Peoples have rejected the Doctrine of Discovery, the statement by the Roman Catholic Church that was used widely to justify the European occupation of Indigenous lands. In 2023, the Vatican announced the Catholic Church was renouncing the Doctrine. This webinar addresses three questions: why are Indigenous Peoples so opposed to this Catholic Doctrine, why did the Catholic Church renounce the Doctrine, and what is the significance for Indigenous Peoples and for Canada of this change in Church policy?
The webinar, moderated by Ken Coates of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, will call on the expertise of Dr. Bruce McIvor, author and one of Canada’s foremost Indigenous lawyers, and Dr. Michael W. Higgins, a prominent Catholic public intellectual and author.
Event Details:

Date: Monday, May 15, 2023
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ET

Please note, that all registered attendees will receive a post-event recording of the webinar. If you are unable to tune in live, you can watch the recording at your convenience.

Speakers

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Panel discussion: G7 Hiroshima Summit and Beyond
2023-05-26 10:00 - 12:00 | Kildare House, 323 Chapel Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 7Z2
This year, Japan will host the G7 summit in Hiroshima amidst a backdrop of growing geostrategic competition and persistent threats to the international rules-based order that Tokyo, Ottawa and our partners have invested so much to protect. Canada, rather than viewing these challenges as isolated or temporal, must recognize the profound changes internationally and work hand-in-glove with key allies like Japan, the US, and many others. Canada’s ability – if it chooses – to be a natural resource and critical minerals superpower should not be overlooked. Following the G7 Summit in Hiroshima this month and considering the geo-political reality of the 21st century, Canada and Japan can further strengthen cooperation and coordination and evolve bilateral relations into a new chapter.
To explore potential opportunities for cooperation between Japan and Canada, along with their mutual partners after G7 Hiroshima, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute(MLI) is delighted to host a moderated panel discussion in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan.
Please note there are limited seats, so please register to reserve a seat.

Event Details:

Date: Friday, May 26, 2023
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET
Door Opens: 9:30 am ET
Location: Kildare House, 323 Chapel Street, Ottawa, ON, K1N 7Z2

Please note, that all registered attendees will receive a post-event recording of the webinar. If you are unable to tune in live, you can watch the recording at your convenience.

Speakers

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Defend or defund? The future of the CBC
2023-06-07 11:00 - 12:30
A rapidly evolved media landscape has led to renewed calls for reform – or in some cases defunding – of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). What has changed in recent years that has led to these calls? What is the proper role of a public broadcaster in the digital age, and how can the CBC best fulfill that role? And how does the CBC fit with the government’s other initiatives regarding cultural content and news?
Join us for an exclusive 90-minute webinar moderated by Aaron Wudrick, Director of Domestic Policy Program at Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI). This webinar features industry experts including Globe and Mail columnist Andrew Coyne, former CBC producer Tara Henley, and MLI Senior Fellow Peter Menzies.
Event Details:

Date: Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Time: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm ET

Please note, that all registered attendees will receive a post-event recording of the webinar. If you are unable to tune in live, you can watch the recording at your convenience.

Speakers

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The Endless Indigenous Water Controversy
2023-06-27 11:30 - 12:30
For more than a decade, The Government of Canada has placed a high priority on bringing clean, safe and reliable water supplies to Indigenous communities across the country. While considerable progress has been made — at a high cost and with delays — a considerable amount of work remains to be done.
In this webinar, First Nations leaders with direct experience in the water sector will speak to the challenges they face and progress that has been made. They’ll also lay out the extensive work that still needs to be done. While the vast majority of Canadians have ready access to good water supplies, many Indigenous communities still deliver water by truck and live with constant water constraints. Our expert panel will outline what is needed to bring Indigenous water services up to national standards.
Event Details:

Date: Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Time: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm ET

Please note, that all registered attendees will receive a post-event recording of the webinar. If you are unable to tune in live, you can watch the recording at your convenience.

Speakers

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Indigenous Peoples and the New Economy
2023-07-25 12:30 - 13:30
There is a growing consensus that national success in the 21st-century economy will depend on active and comprehensive participation in the “new economy.” Rarely, however, does this conversation extend to the involvement of Indigenous people, businesses and communities in high-technology, innovation-centred enterprises. To an impressive degree, Indigenous entrepreneurs are already engaged in the sector, determined to bring the needed infrastructure, training, ideas and businesses to First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities.
This webinar involves three impressive new economy Indigenous entrepreneurs who will discuss the achievements, needs, barriers and aspirations of Indigenous communities in the global innovation economy.
Event Details:

Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023
Time: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm ET

Please note, that all registered attendees will receive a post-event recording of the webinar. If you are unable to tune in live, you can watch the recording at your convenience.

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The West in Confederation: What's Behind Western Restlessness?
2023-10-26 13:00 - 14:00
In the past few years, the combination of Albertan assertiveness, First Nations’ engagement, Saskatchewan’s social policy activism, and Manitoba’s political transitions have attracted national attention. Yet most Canadians outside the region have little sense of what is going on politically, economically and socially in the West. Current battles over resource development, social policy, Indigenous rights, and federal-provincial relations highlight the degree to which the West seems to be out of step with much of the rest of the country.
This webinar highlights contributions by Blaine Favel, who will discuss the current aspirations and political priorities of Western Canada.

Event Details

Date: Thursday, October 26, 2023
Time: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ET

Please note, that all registered attendees will receive a post-event recording of the webinar. If you are unable to tune in live, you can watch the recording at your convenience.
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The Notwithstanding Clause: Use It - or Lose It?
2023-10-27 14:00 - 15:00
In recent years, provincial governments have turned with increasing frequency to Section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms – otherwise known as the notwithstanding clause – to inoculate legislation from judicial invalidation. Should this trend be concerning, and does it represent a break from the historical norm? When, if ever, is it appropriate for Section 33 to be used?
Join us for an exclusive 60-minute webinar moderated by Aaron Wudrick, Director of Domestic Policy Program at Macdonald-Laurier Institute and featuring Dave Snow, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Guelph, and Leonid Sirota, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Reading.

Event Details

Date: Friday, October 27, 2023
Time: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET

Please note, that all registered attendees will receive a post-event recording of the webinar. If you are unable to tune in live, you can watch the recording at your convenience.

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Indigenous Peoples and Critical Minerals
2023-11-23 14:00 - 15:00
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The global demand for critical minerals has placed unprecedented pressure on Indigenous groups and governments to approve and fast track resource development projects. This is particularly the case in northern Ontario, where the extensive mineral resources continue to attract a great deal of development interest. How are Canadian Indigenous communities responding to this situation? They are, in the main, working to balance much-needed economic opportunities with the assertion of Indigenous rights and the protection of traditional territories. The accelerating need for the highly sought-after minerals is altering the dynamics of Indigenous economic development and environmental oversight. This webinar features two of Canada’s leading Indigenous experts on natural resource development, both of whom have extensive knowledge opf the environmental, political and community aspects of critical minerals extraction.
JP Gladu, President of Mokwateh Consulting and former President of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, serves as a Director for several mining companies and has extensive experience in the field. Jason Thompson, owner of Superior Strategies, takes an innovative approach to partnership building Private Sector and First Nations in Northwest Ontario. Ken Coates, MLI’s Distinguished Senior Fellow and Director of the Indigenous Program, will moderate the conversation.

Event Details:

Date: Thursday, November 23, 2023
Time: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET

Please note, that all registered attendees will receive a post-event recording of the webinar. If you are unable to tune in live, you can watch the recording at your convenience.

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The Online News Act: Surveying the fallout and what comes next
2023-11-28 11:00 - 12:30
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The Online News Act (Bill C-18) has not turned out as the Trudeau government intended, with Meta withdrawing from news sharing and Google threatening to do the same. The result has been a disaster for Canadian media, with both legacy outlets and news startups left worse off than before.
On this panel, we bring together journalists and media experts to discuss what went wrong – and what comes next for Canadian media.

Event Details:

Date: Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Time: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm ET

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First Nations and the energy to succeed
2023-12-04 12:30 - 13:30
Indigenous communities have unique and incredibly complex relationships with the oil, gas and pipeline sectors. Media coverage emphasizes – and distorts – Indigenous engagement by focusing on the comparatively small numbers of conflicts with developers. After thoughtful local debate, many Indigenous communities, in fact, choose to pursue careful partnerships with energy firms.
This webinar, presented by three leading First Nations proponents for natural resource and pipeline development, will explore the challenges, opportunities, risks and benefits from Indigenous participation in planning, construction, operations, and ownership of oil, gas and pipeline projects. The First Nations leaders will discuss the management of internal community disagreements, the role of outside activists, the engagement of Indigenous businesses, and the building of Indigenous equity in the resource sector.

Event Details:

Date: Monday, December 4, 2023
Time: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm ET

Please note, that all registered attendees will receive a post-event recording of the webinar. If you are unable to tune in live, you can watch the recording at your convenience.

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Assessing the Impact of the Impact Assessment Act ruling
2023-12-15 13:00 - 14:00
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On October 13th, 2023, the Supreme Court of Canada, in a 5-2 decision, held that the majority of the Impact Assessment Act was outside Parliament’s law-making authority and thus unconstitutional. The decision is highly significant in its delineation of federal and provincial jurisdiction. The Court reiterated that the federal government must be careful to not overreach into areas of provincial jurisdiction.
In the aftermath of the decision, there is as much confusion as ever as to what it means and how much of the IAA can stand. The federal government has indicated that some targeted amendments, which could be done quickly, would be sufficient to “course correct”. Some provinces have argued that IAA is beyond repair, with the Ontario Attorney General launching a court case less than two weeks after the SCC decision to kill the law once and for all.
What does the Supreme Court decision on the IAA mean for future assessments of major projects, and for those in the IAA process today? What must the federal government change to make the IAA constitutional? How will the decision impact other proposed federal environmental laws such as the Clean Electricity Regulations and emissions cap on the oil and gas sector?
To cut through the politicking, this webinar will bring together four of the country’s top legal experts on Canadian impact assessment and regulation to debate what the decision means and what lays ahead.

Event Details:

Date: Friday, December 15, 2023
Time: 1:0 pm – 2:00 pm ET

Please note, that all registered attendees will receive a post-event recording of the webinar. If you are unable to tune in live, you can watch the recording at your convenience.

Speakers

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Delayed and denied: The challenges faced by Canadians with rare disorders
2024-01-16 13:00 - 14:00
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Fewer new drugs for rare disorders come to Canada relative to the US and Europe. Canada has set-up barriers that delay or deny access to new drugs for many patients with unmet or poorly met healthcare needs. This leaves vulnerable Canadians at a serious disadvantage.
This webinar will highlight how these barriers impact Canadians living with rare disorders, how the federal government made matters worse over the past six years with well-intentioned but poorly conceived plans to reduce drug prices, and why the result has been greater uncertainty and further delays. We will also discuss the impact of a proposed national pharmacare program and alternative ways to help ensure Canadians, especially those with rare disorders, have access to the drugs they need.

Event Details:

Date: Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Time: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ET

Please note, that all registered attendees will receive a post-event recording of the webinar. If you are unable to tune in live, you can watch the recording at your convenience.

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The Role of Clean Fuels in an Energy Transition
2024-03-14 11:00 - 12:00
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From a wide variety of energy policy perspectives – be it reliability, affordability, security or redundancy – we will continue to need not just electrons but also molecules to meet society’s energy needs. Electricity and fuels play very different roles in our energy system. We cannot have just one or the other, and we cannot “electrify everything”. We need a secure supply of both.
That reality provides a responsibility and an opportunity for those in the fuels sector, whether in production, refining, transportation or distribution, to reduce the carbon intensity of their product. While efforts to decarbonize electricity systems are fairly well understood by the general public, efforts and advances in decarbonizing fuels have received less attention. From biofuels to hydrogen, and from renewable diesel to compressed natural gas, innovations in clean fuel development and uptake will play an important role in our climate goals.
Unfortunately, many policies to advance the development of clean fuels have been contradictory, with some have had the effect of chilling, rather than incentivizing investment. A coordinated policy approach that supports both producers and consumers to move towards cleaner fuels is needed.
This panel brings together experts from across the fuels industry spectrum to discuss the innovations they are advancing, and what policies would help them go further.

Event Details:

Date: Thursday, March 14, 2024
Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm ET

Please note, that all registered attendees will receive a post-event recording of the webinar. If you are unable to tune in live, you can watch the recording at your convenience.

Speakers

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Exploring Innovation in Canadian Health Care
2024-04-22 15:00 - 16:00
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Canadian health care is in crisis. Wait-lists grow, while Canadians cannot find a family doctor or access much-needed medicines and treatments. Governments have poured billions into the system as Canadians reach their limit with the status quo. Innovative thinking is required to rescue Canadian health care.
In this MLI panel, we will discuss innovations – past and prospective – in family medicine, medical technology, and the health charity sector,and discuss ways in which policy-makers can embrace innovation in health care to ensure Canadians are better served.
Speakers

Date: Monday, April 22, 2024
Time: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET

Speakers

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Icy Crossroads? Comparing American and Canadian security strategies in the Arctic
2024-08-07 12:00 - 13:30
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This live webinar brings together leading Canadian and American experts to examine security and defence strategies in the North American Arctic, following on the publication of the US Department of Defense Arctic Strategy 2024. Panelists will explore how Canada and the United States approach Arctic security, discussing areas of alignment and potential divergence. This panel aims to explore the complex security landscape in the Arctic and its implications for North American defence cooperation. Key topics include NORAD modernization, the role of emerging technologies, resource competition, human security and the implications of the Russia-China axis.
Event Details:

Date: Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm ET

Participants:

First Nations Wealth Production and Management
2024-08-15 12:00 - 13:00
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Indigenous groups nationwide are eager to produce own-source revenues and to reduce their reliance on fiscal transfers from the Government of Canada. Indigenous economic development corporations are the primary vehicle available to First Nations, Metis and Inuit in their efforts to achieve this goal. This webinar examines the role and impact of wealth production efforts and looks specifically at how development corporations invest their resources to secure the best possible long-term returns to the communities.

Event Details:

Date: Thursday, August 15, 2024
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ET

Please note, that all registered attendees will receive a post-event recording of the webinar. If you are unable to tune in live, you can watch the recording at your convenience.

Speakers

Converting Opportunity into Indigenous Prosperity
2024-09-06 15:00 - 16:00
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This webinar features Sandy Sanderson, President of the Northeastern Alberta Business Association and a northern entrepreneur. The discussion will review the current state of Indigenous engagement in the oil and gas sector in northern Alberta. It will explore the achievements and limitations of Indigenous procurement processes, Indigenous investment strategies, and opportunities for further participation in the resource economy. The focus of the conversation will be on what might be called the “next wave” of Indigenous economic engagement, moving beyond the fairly limited returns of the past quarter century and establishing a foundation for more extensive Indigenous involvement and long-term prosperity building.

Event Details:

Date: Friday, September 6th, 2024
Time: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET

Please note, that all registered attendees will receive a post-event recording of the webinar. If you are unable to tune in live, you can watch the recording at your convenience.

Speakers

Authoritarian Alliances in Afghanistan: How China is strengthening the Taliban regime while undermining liberal democracy
2024-09-12 09:00 - 10:00
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In the wake of the NATO and U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, China has swiftly expanded its presence in the war-torn nation, exploiting the power vacuum to extract natural resources and support the Taliban regime. This financial backing strengthens the Taliban’s control and risks turning Afghanistan into a terrorism hub. In a webinar discussion, we will explore China’s growing influence in Afghanistan and its attempts to undermine liberal democracy. Beyond economics, China seeks to dominate Afghan society, including civil and academic institutions and was the first to recognize Taliban-controlled embassies. Our experts will delve into these issues, examining the threats to global security and democracy, and discuss how Canada and the international community can respond to these challenges. Don’t miss this vital conversation on safeguarding peace, freedom, and liberal democracy.

Event Details:

Date: Thursday, September 12th, 2024
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. ET

Speakers
