Shauna Sylvester: Is Canadian Democracy in Trouble?

Ep 265

Guest: Shauna Sylvester

Is Canadian Democracy in Trouble?

 

The numbers are in and support for democracy in Canada is lower than you would expect. It's rebounding from a low of 65% in 2017 to 77% now. It is so low the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue at SFU launched a study to figure out what is going on and why.

 

Back in 2005, it looked as if democracies around the world were thriving. Since then, the sense that a democracy is the best form of government has been slipping.

 

When support for democracy slips, other forms of government are often proposed. If and when there is an openness to another type of governance, that in turn can open the door to anti-system candidates or parties.

 

Trump and Brexit are two examples of anti-system responses. A party, an ideology or an individual will suggest there is another way to make the country great – and that other way is them.

 

We invited Shauna Sylvester of the Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the state of democracy in Canada. 

 

Conversations That Matter is a partner program for the Morris J Wosk Center for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. The production of this program is made possible thanks to the support of the following and viewers like you.

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