Events Detail

Canada's May 2nd National Election:

Time for Political Reform?

May 4, 2011

12:00 - 1:30 PM

Canadians have finally given Prime Minister Stephen Harper the parliamentary majority he has long sought– will he now pursue his ambitious agenda for reform of the House of Commons, the Canadian Senate, and other Canadian institutions? Will reform make Canadian politics more rational, or more dysfunctional? 

     Marshall, Pepall, and Sands

Canadian author John Pepall has written an important new book on what is right and what is wrong with Canada's political institutions and current proposals for reform — many of which have been advanced (without success) by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. From election reform, Senate reform, fixed election dates, parliamentary review of judicial appointments, recall of politicians, referenda, to changes to the strict party discipline that limits the independence of individual MPs—John Pepall is against all of them.

Hudson was pleased to welcome John Pepall to present and debate his new book, Against Reform (Centre for Public Management, University of Toronto Press) in light of the outcome of Canada's current national election. Hudson Senior Fellow Christopher Sands presented an analysis of the election outcome as well as the political prospects for various reform proposals. Hudson Senior Fellow Paul Marshall moderated.

See Canadian Commons Reform breakdown by clicking here.

Betsy and Walter Stern Conference Center

Hudson Institute

1015 15th St, NW

6th Floor

Washington, DC 20005