Andrew Cohen and other leading commentators speaking at conference on Canada’s constitutional democracy issues
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (June 4, 2021)
OTTAWA – Today, the new national educational charity Your Canada, Your Constitution (YCYC) launched in Ottawa with a free afternoon conference and evening reception at the Chateau Laurier.
YCYC will conduct research and undertake educational initiatives and programs about the history of, and ongoing development of, Canada’s Constitution and governments.
“I am very happy to announce the launch of Your Canada, Your Constitution and its national education efforts to inform, and foster, a very public discussion about Canada’s constitutional history and future,” said Carl Turkstra, President of YCYC. Substantial funding for YCYC is being provided by a private foundation.
YCYC’s Spokesperson is Duff Conacher, best-selling author of Canada Firsts and More Canada Firsts, and Founder of Democracy Watch. YCYC’s Patrons Council so far includes Paul Heinbecker, former Ambassador to the UN and Director of the Laurier Centre for Global Relations; former Royal Canadian Air Farce cast member Alan Park, and; Doug Saunders, best-selling author and European Bureau Chief and columnist for the Globe and Mail.
Best-selling author, journalist and professor Andrew Cohen is on the YCYC Strategic Advisory Committee, along with Stikeman Elliott lawyer Michel Décary, and Ananya Mukherjee-Reed, Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science at York University.
Well-known professors from across Canada are also already involved as members of research and education advisory committees (See list below), and more people will be added to the Patrons Council and committees in the near future.
YCYC’s activities will be aimed especially at increasing public knowledge, and generating public discussion and full consideration of:
- Canada’s history as a constitutional monarchy, past proposals for change, and possible future as a fully independent democracy based on popular sovereignty;
- the role of the Governor General and provincial lieutenant governors, and the relationship between them and the Prime Minister, provincial premiers and cabinets and legislatures and politicians; and
- how people in other countries have addressed questions and issues concerning their constitutions and fundamental structures and operations of their government.
Who are we?
You can learn more about the people behind YCYC-VCVC here.
