Free Speech: Behind the Iron Curtain and in North America Today
2024-12-12 14:30 - 15:30 (America/Toronto)
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When authoritarian regimes crackdown on free speech and dissent, we in the “free world” are often tempted to say, “it could never happen here.” However, the truth is, our freedoms are eroding every day thanks to government overreach and attempts to censor speech both in person and online.
In this webinar, MLI will bring together three distinguished panellists who have personally experienced life under authoritarian regimes where free speech was severely restricted. Now living in North America, the panellists will share their perspectives on the erosion of free speech in Canada and its parallels to their experiences living under authoritarian regimes.
Freedom of expression/speech is a fundamental protection in Canada and the US – but it’s increasingly under threat. The panelists will discuss concerns over recent legal decisions and enacted and proposed bills, as well as recent research on the topic in academia. The webinar will serve as a timely reminder of the delicate balance between free expression and government control, and the dangers of complacency in a democracy.

Speakers

Please register for the event here.
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.
Everything we do at MLI is made possible by generous donors. If you enjoyed the event, please consider supporting our work.

Eco-colonialism and Indigenous involvement in the natural resource sector
2025-01-23 13:00 - 14:00
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Environmental groups have actively opposed natural resource and infrastructure development in Indigenous territories. Many Indigenous communities see them as latter-day missionaries – outsiders convinced of their analyses and priorities and willing to impose their views on Indigenous peoples and communities. Environmentalists have thwarted Indigenous development, upended whole industries, ignored community priorities, and attacked Indigenous leaders who support carefully done resource projects. This webinar will examine, from an Indigenous perspective, the tactics and impacts of environmentalists’ intervention on resource initiatives.
Please register for the event here.
Everything we do at MLI is made possible by generous donors. If you enjoy the event, please consider supporting our work.

Speakers

Building Better: Solving the housing crisis and reducing carbon emissions through integrated energy, infrastructure, and housing policies
2025-03-10 13:00 - 14:00
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Canada’s housing market is facing a crisis, with soaring costs and growing demand, while energy and infrastructure struggles to keep pace with the needs of a changing economy. Join us for a webinar event featuring leading experts as we explore the critical intersection of energy, housing, and infrastructure policy in Canada.
In an era of rising housing costs, evolving energy demands, and aging infrastructure, our panelists will examine how these sectors are interconnected, and how policy approaches that integrate the three can allow the simultaneous pursuit of more housing with the right mix of supporting infrastructure in a way that reduces emissions.
Our experts will offer a comprehensive analysis of the complex dynamics shaping Canada’s future and explore innovative solutions for addressing these pressing issues. This session will provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Canada’s energy, housing, and infrastructure sectors.
Please register for the event here.
Everything we do at MLI is made possible by generous donors. If you enjoy the event, please consider supporting our work.
Speakers

Removing the roadblocks: How provinces can lead the charge on boosting internal trade
2025-03-18 15:00 - 16:00
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Join us for a webinar to tackle one of Canada’s most pressing economic challenges: the barriers to internal trade and worker mobility that are stifling productivity, investment, and wage growth in Canada.
Drawing from his new paper Breaking barriers: How provinces can drive Canada’s prosperity by unlocking trade and labour mobility, MLI Senior Fellow and Economics Professor Trevor Tombe will discuss how these obstacles are holding back businesses and workers alike, and why waiting for a national solution is unnecessary. Provinces have the power to act boldly and independently – by recognizing regulations from other provinces, improving labour mobility, and removing unnecessary trade exemptions – paving the way for a more efficient, resilient economy.
Canada is facing unprecedented economic uncertainty thanks to US President Donald Trump’s tariff war and “51st state” annexation threats. As the country’s GDP per capita continues to decline, the need for action has never been greater. This webinar will explore how provincial reforms can not only boost local economies but drive national growth, reduce regional disparities, and strengthen Canada’s overall economic resilience. Join us to discover how provincial action can unlock Canada’s full economic potential, create a more integrated economy, and secure a more self-sufficient, prosperous future.
Speakers

Combatting disinformation: The importance of partnership between Japan and Canada
2025-03-24 08:00 - 09:30
In today’s digital landscape, disinformation spreads rapidly, influencing public opinion, undermining trust in institutions, and threatening democratic stability. As malicious actors refine their tactics, the need for coordinated international action has never been more urgent. Disinformation poses a direct challenge to democracy, national security, and social cohesion.
The Macdonald-Laurier Institute will host a webinar on the collaborative efforts between Japan and Canada to counter disinformation in an era of increasing digital threats. As misinformation and fake news continue to threaten our democratic institutions, national security, and public trust, international co-operation is more critical than ever.
This session will bring together experts, policy-makers, and researchers to discuss strategies, best practices, and joint initiatives aimed at strengthening information integrity. Topics will include threat actors and their targets in the Canada and Japan, countermeasures (regulatory measures, debunking, prebunking, strategic communications, media literacy programs, etc.), technological advancements, and cross-border collaborations to reduce the harm of disinformation.

Register for the event here.
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

Legacy on Trial: Revisiting Macdonald and Diefenbaker
2025-05-06 13:00 - 15:00
Canadian history is under siege. Activists are attempting to rewrite the past, while the public grows increasingly indifferent to our nation’s founding figures. As the threat of cultural erasure and creeping Americanization increases, it’s more important than ever to defend the legacy of those who built Canada.
Join the Macdonald-Laurier Institute for a dynamic panel event, featuring two of Canada’s leading voices on history: Patrice Dutil and Bob Plamondon. Together, they re-examine the lives and legacies of two pivotal prime ministers – Sir John A. Macdonald and John Diefenbaker – at a moment when their contributions are being challenged like never before.
Dutil’s latest works, Sir John A. Macdonald and the Apocalyptic Year of 1885 and Ballots and Brawls, shine a new light on the trials, triumphs, and fierce leadership that shaped early Canada. Plamondon’s Freedom Fighter, meanwhile, reintroduces Diefenbaker as a courageous defender of Canadian freedoms and independence.
In an era when Canada’s political legacy is too often overlooked or misrepresented, this event offers a vital counterpoint and a closer look at two leaders who shaped the Canada we know today. Don’t miss this exclusive conversation on truth, leadership, and the fight to preserve Canada’s story.
Register for the event here.
Event Program:

1:00 pm: Doors open, with a networking coffee session for guests
1:30 pm: Armchair discussion begins with Patrice Dutil, Bob Plamondon and Peter Copeland, including Q&A with the audience
3:00 pm: End of event

Speakers

A better plan: Untangling jurisdictional webs & reducing housing burdens
2025-05-21 12:00 - 13:00
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Housing is scarce. Canadians are hard pressed. And governments can’t seem to agree on the best solutions.
Join us for an eye-opening webinar to explore the complexity of federal and provincial jurisdictions and their impact on urban development. We’ll take a close look at how building codes, zoning, municipal charges, and permitting processes shape the development landscape and we’ll map out paths for reform.
Our experts will unpack the delicate balance between federal and provincial authority and how political incentives drive municipal regulatory decisions. We’ll also explore how municipal charges and zoning laws impact project timelines, costs, and overall development strategies.
This session will offer key insights on navigating regulatory challenges and optimizing development strategies within the complexities of federal and provincial regulations.
Please register for the event here.

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

Unravelling MAiD in Canada: Rethinking Policy and Practice
2025-05-27 13:00 - 15:00 | Kildare House, 323 Chapel Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 7Z2
Euthanasia and assisted suicide – now known in Canada as Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) – has expanded rapidly in the 10 years since its introduction and is now the fifth-leading cause of death in Canada. Originally introduced as an exception to the Criminal code prohibitions on assisted suicide, homicide, and consent to death – intended to relieve suffering in a broad end-of-life context – its uptake has increased considerably and is now permitted under broader circumstances where death is not reasonably foreseeable, suffering deemed subjectively intolerable, and to vulnerable and disabled Canadians. Its rapid proliferation, which continues unabated, is raising urgent questions about where Canada’s policy is headed.
Join the Macdonald-Laurier Institute for the launch of Unravelling MAiD in Canada: Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide as Medical Care, a new book that critically examines the evolution of MAiD policy and its troubling implications.
Co-editors Dr. Ramona Coelho, Dr. Trudo Lemmens, and Dr. K. Sonu Gaind bring a powerful interdisciplinary perspective from medicine, law, and ethics. Together, they will explore the normalization of euthanasia and assisted dying in medical practice, the weakening of safeguards, and the growing risks to vulnerable Canadians, including those with disabilities and mental illness. The panel will also offer concrete policy ideas for governments to consider as Canada assesses further expansion in 2027.
This timely event goes beyond a book launch – it’s a crucial contribution to a debate that is central to Canadian values.
Event Program:

1:00 pm: Doors open, with a networking coffee session for guests
1:30 pm: Panel discussion begins, including Q&A session.
3:00 pm: End of event

Please register for the event here.

Speakers

FAQs

AI policy in Canada: A unique path between the EU and US
2025-07-07 13:00 - 14:00
As global powers race to define the rules of artificial intelligence, Canada stands at a crossroads between the European Union’s regulatory caution and the United States’ innovation-driven approach. Should Canada choose a side – or carve out its own path?
Join us for a timely webinar on Canada’s evolving AI policy landscape. We’ll explore key legislative developments, evolving regulatory frameworks, and their implications for innovation, privacy, equity, and global competitiveness. Our expert panel will delve into the ethical, legal, and economic stakes, asking: What could a distinctly Canadian approach to AI governance look like?
This session offers a rare opportunity to engage with leading voices as they map out how Canada can navigate the complexities of AI regulation – safeguarding public trust and promoting technology that serves people and their well-being – all while fostering technological leadership and innovation. Be part of the conversation shaping Canada’s role in the global AI ecosystem.
Speakers

Building better housing policy: How immigration, family formation, and a changing population shape housing supply and affordability
2025-08-06 12:00 - 13:00
Canada is undergoing profound demographic change, and that’s driven housing policy to the centre of the national conversation.
Questions about housing policy – and specifically how it supports or hinders family life, community cohesion, and economic resilience – have never been more urgent.
Our expert panel will address how immigration patterns affect supply and demand, how demographic shifts are changing housing needs, and how affordability influences key life decisions such as marriage, childbearing, and household formation.
They’ll also dive into solutions. The panel will look at how municipalities and developers can respond with strategies that promote affordability, strengthen civil society, and support long-term prosperity.
The webinar will offer essential insights into the drivers shaping Canada’s housing landscape, and the policy responses needed to meet the challenges ahead.

Breaking the Feed: Does the attention economy undermine our democracy?
2025-08-13 13:00 - 14:00
Join us on this webinar to explore the complex relationship between free speech, democracy, and the attention economy.
In an age where digital platforms prioritize engagement above all else, the algorithms that shape what we see and hear increasingly favour outrage, sensationalism, and polarizing content. This dynamic has profound implications –not only for the quality of public discourse, but for democratic values and our shared understanding of truth. Beyond distorting public debate, the attention economy is undermining journalism, accelerating mental health crises, polarizing citizens, and opening the door to foreign influence operations, all while monetizing distraction and division.
Our panel of experts will explore how these forces intersect, the risks they pose to civic life, and what can be done to foster healthier digital spaces.
Register for the event here.

Free speech under threat: How we can defend it – together
2025-08-25 13:00 - 14:00
﻿﻿﻿Free speech in Canada is facing unprecedented pressure from expanding government controls and cultural shifts. Once the bedrock of democratic life, open debate is increasingly stifled by laws targeting so-called “harmful” expression and by a rising climate of censorship – especially on sensitive issues like immigration, gender, and national identity.Canada’s conception of free speech has quietly – but profoundly – shifted. Once seen as a tool for collective truth-seeking and democratic engagement, it is now often framed as a matter of personal expression. This turn, amplified by the Charter’s post-1982 interpretation and the rise of expressive individualism, has made them more easily overridden in the name of competing values like “safety” and “inclusion.” The result? A thinner, more fragile vision of free expression – one less anchored in the rigour of open debate.Join Macdonald-Laurier Institute Senior Fellows Ryan Alford and Eric Kaufmann for a critical conversation on the future of free expression in Canada. They’ll explore the cultural currents weakening resistance to censorship, the revival of restrictive laws, and the risks they pose to our foundational freedoms. They will also offer a roadmap for Canadians seeking to restore a culture of open inquiry and principled dissent. It’s time for Canadians to raise their voices in defence of free speech – before it’s too late.Register for the event here.

Free speech in Canada is facing unprecedented pressure from expanding government controls and cultural shifts. Once the bedrock of democratic life, open debate is increasingly stifled by laws targeting so-called “harmful” expression and by a rising climate of censorship – especially on sensitive issues like immigration, gender, and national identity.
Canada’s conception of free speech has quietly – but profoundly – shifted. Once seen as a tool for collective truth-seeking and democratic engagement, it is now often framed as a matter of personal expression. This turn, amplified by the Charter’s post-1982 interpretation and the rise of expressive individualism, has made them more easily overridden in the name of competing values like “safety” and “inclusion.” The result? A thinner, more fragile vision of free expression – one less anchored in the rigour of open debate.
Join Macdonald-Laurier Institute Senior Fellows Ryan Alford and Eric Kaufmann for a critical conversation on the future of free expression in Canada. They’ll explore the cultural currents weakening resistance to censorship, the revival of restrictive laws, and the risks they pose to our foundational freedoms. They will also offer a roadmap for Canadians seeking to restore a culture of open inquiry and principled dissent. It’s time for Canadians to raise their voices in defence of free speech – before it’s too late.

The Aftermath of October 7
2025-10-07 09:00 - 10:30
Two years after the horrific Hamas attacks on Israel, join us for an essential conversation with leading experts Hussein Aboubakr Mansour, Casey Babb, and Einat Wilf. They will examine the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israel’s defence against escalating Islamist terror, and the global forces reshaping the region’s future. With rising antisemitism in the West, including in Canada, this session will provide vital insights into the Israeli-Hamas conflict, shifting Arab political thought, and a roadmap for a more secure future for Israel.
Please register for the event here.

Shadows over Canada: Confronting foreign influence
2025-10-08 15:00 - 17:00 | Kildare House, 323 Chapel Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 7Z2
Foreign interference. Money laundering. Undue influence by powerful insiders. These are just some of the hidden threats facing Canada’s democracy. It’s time to unmask these forces – subjecting them to hard scrutiny before they can further erode our democratic institutions.
Join MLI for a timely discussion with senior experts on the policy choices Canada must make to address its growing vulnerabilities. Our panel – including a former solicitor general, veteran investigators, and a senior fellow with national security experience – will reveal how illicit networks, substate capture, and abuse of public office undermine Canadian democracy. In addition, participants will consider concrete policy and institutional reforms that Canada needs to confront these risks. Based on fresh investigations and new insights, this event exposes threats too often overlooked.
Reception to follow at All Saints 5:00 -7:00 PM (330 Laurier Ave E).
Please register for the event here.
Event Program:

3:00 pm: Doors open, with refreshments
3:30 pm: Welcoming remarks by Christopher Coates, MLI
3:40 pm: Panel begins, moderated by Kevin Vuong, with panelists: Hon. Wayne Easter, Garry Clement, and Dean Baxendale
5:00 pm: End of event

Copies of Canada Under Siege: How PEI Became a Forward Operating Base for the Chinese Communist Party will be available for purchase at the event.

The productivity puzzle: Why Canada struggles to build its way out of the housing crisis
2025-10-27 14:00 - 15:00
Canada isn’t short on builders, yet it’s building less than ever. Despite record numbers of workers and billions in public spending, housing output per worker hasn’t kept pace. Home prices may be softening, but affordability remains out of reach and construction backlogs keep growing.
An often-overlooked aspect of Canada’s housing affordability and supply challenge is construction sector productivity. The data raise hard questions about whether government housing targets are even possible under the current system, and what needs to change to make building faster, smarter, and more affordable.
This panel discussion will explore why total construction times and productivity have stalled and how better policy, smarter regulation, and modern building methods can help break through the bottlenecks. If Canada wants to solve its housing crisis, it must first fix how it builds – and that starts with productivity.
Speakers

Please register for the event here.

Trump's peace plan: Assessing the future of Canada-US relations in the Middle East
2026-01-29 12:00 - 13:30
Join us for a groundbreaking Macdonald-Laurier Institute webinar as we explore the shifting landscape of the Middle East and its direct implications on Canada-US relations. In this exclusive session, our expert panel will dissect the long-term consequences of President Donald Trump’s peace plan, analyze Canada’s evolving foreign policy toward Israel and Gaza, and discuss how recent geopolitical shifts are reshaping cross-border diplomacy. Featured speakers include Dr. Michael Doran, senior fellow and director, Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East at the Hudson Institute; Dr. Ronen Hoffman, Israel’s former ambassador to Canada; and Dr. Casey Babb, director of MLI’s Promised Land Program. The panel will unpack these crucial issues and then questions from attendees. Be a part of the conversation – the first of its kind in Canada.
Please register for the event here.

Charting Uncertain Waters - Facts vs. Fears
2026-02-05 11:00 - 14:00
Experts cut through Indigenous land claim rulings, transparency gaps, and uncertainty affecting real estate and resource development.

Resource Works Presents “Charting Uncertain Waters: Facts vs. Fears” at the Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort:
Leading experts will navigate the noise around recent Indigenous land claim rulings, government transparency and the resulting uncertainty around real estate risks and natural resources development.
Speakers
Karen Restoule – Director of Indigenous Affairs and Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.
Crystal Smith – Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.
Thomas Isaac – Partner at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
(More to be announced soon.)
Please register for the event here.

Healthcare without hate: Confronting antisemitism in medicine
2026-02-18 18:00 - 19:00
Throughout Canada, the United States, and much of the Western world, antisemitism and other forms of bigotry are creeping into healthcare at unprecedented rates as medicine becomes increasingly politicized. Although this issue affects everyone, few are giving it the attention it deserves. In this timely webinar, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, in collaboration with Doctors Against Racism and Antisemitism and the American Jewish Medical Association, unpacks these troubling trends, shedding light on a dangerous issue that warrants urgent attention.
Speakers

Please register for the even here.

Energy Security Summit 2026
2026-03-10 - 2026-03-11
The Energy Security Summit is a premier gathering of decision-makers, security experts, and energy system leaders focused on confronting the most urgent energy security challenges facing Canada today. Over two days, participants will examine the evolving global threat landscape, Canada’s role in supporting global energy security, and the technologies critical to protecting and strengthening energy production and delivery systems.

Presented by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI) and fuelled by the Energy Security Technical Advisory Committee (E-STAC), the summit is shaped by the guidance of a cross-sector Advisory Council with deep expertise across energy systems, national security, technology, and public policy.

Day 1 examines the strategic pressures reshaping Canada’s energy landscape. Through keynotes and high-level panels, participants explore energy security and strategic spending, the challenges of balancing affordability, sustainability, and resilience, and the role of government within an increasingly unstable global environment. Sessions address foreign influence in Canadian energy projects, security risks in the Arctic and northern regions, and intelligence and defence cooperation with international allies, underscoring the scale and immediacy of today’s threats.
Day 2 focuses on resilience across Canada’s interconnected systems. Programming highlights the growing interdependence of energy, telecommunications, and financial infrastructure, the rising importance of data security, and the need for coordinated, cross-sector responses. Discussions emphasize collaboration, alignment, and technological readiness to strengthen Canada’s ability to anticipate, withstand, and respond to emerging risks.

Restoring the economic vision of Canada’s constitution
2026-03-26 14:00 - 15:00
Canada’s Constitution rests on an implicit economic vision – one grounded in property rights, decentralized decision-making, and the free movement of goods, services, labour, and capital across the country.
Though not explicitly articulated in the constitutional text, this vision is embedded in its architecture: federalism, subsidiarity, and the commitment to economic union. Over time, however, that underlying logic has been obscured by regulatory fragmentation, interprovincial barriers, and institutional inertia.
Building on three recent Macdonald-Laurier Institute papers – on mutual recognition, property rights, and the creation of a new agency to facilitate internal trade – this project moves from theory to practice. MLI will develop concrete legislative drafting instructions to translate these ideas into actionable, ready-to-adopt policy.
Canada’s current political moment has renewed attention to issues long relegated to the margins: persistent internal trade barriers and the unrealized economic promise embedded in our constitutional framework. The time for endless diagnosis is over. We need practical proposals capable of turning that promise into reality.

Safeguarding Canada’s parliamentary tradition
2026-04-21 13:00 - 14:00
Canada’s Parliamentary democracy – the core of our constitutional system – is increasingly threatened by expansive judicial decisions. Some of these rulings reflect skepticism, even outright hostility, to Parliament’s role; others stem from misunderstanding or ignorance about how our system is meant to work. This concise, accessible webinar will explain how Parliamentary democracy fits within Canada’s constitutional order – and what can be done to safeguard it from judicial overreach.
Speakers
