The Samara Centre for Democracy

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The Samara Centre for Democracy

Strengthening Canada’s democracy through research, policy change and public engagement.

Our research and programs make us a go-to resource for active citizens, educators, public leaders and the media.

08/12/2026

In Defence of Democracy returns to Toronto on October 6th with Carissa Véliz and Lisa LaFlamme. 🎟️ Tickets are on sale now via the link in bio.

Carissa Véliz is a writer, keynote speaker, and Associate Professor of Philosophy at the Institute for Ethics in AI at the University of Oxford. She is best-selling author of Privacy is Power: Why and How You Should Take Back Control of Your Data, an Economist Best Book of the Year, and the recently published Prophecy: Prediction, Power, and the Fight for the Future, from Ancient Oracles to AI. Véliz advises companies, governments, and other public and private institutions around the world on privacy, digital technologies, and the ethics of AI. She is also a 2026 TED Fellow and TED mainstage speaker.

Véliz’s keynote will examine what the future of politics looks like in Canada in an era of predictive AI and offer practical solutions for policymakers and ordinary citizens alike. Her lecture will be followed by a conversation with renowned journalist and Samara Centre board member about how technology is influencing civic engagement and the steps we can take to protect our democratic resilience.

📅 October 6, 2026
🕰️ 6:30 PM
📍 Winter Garden Theatre, 189 Yonge Street, Toronto
🎟️ Get Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/100064FFDE176919

07/20/2026

What role should citizens' assemblies play in our democracy?

According to Dr. Seána Glennon, deliberative mini-publics aren't intended to replace representative democracy. Instead, they're designed to complement it by creating more meaningful opportunities for citizens to contribute to public decision-making. Their impact, however, depends on governments taking their recommendations seriously.

This clip is from Beyond Elections: Mini-Publics as a Tool for Democratic Renewal, recorded live at the Samara Centre for Democracy.

🎧 Listen to the full panel: https://www.samaracentre.ca/articles/beyond-elections-mini-publics-as-a-tool-for-democratic-renewal

📹️ Watch the full panel: https://youtu.be/B6CTEN9u_mk

07/17/2026

Who gets a seat at the table?

According to Dr. Seána Glennon, meaningful public participation isn't just about bringing together people of different backgrounds—it's about creating space for voices we don't always hear. Citizens' assemblies are designed to include people who may never run for office or speak into a microphone, but whose perspectives are just as valuable in shaping public decisions.

This clip is from Beyond Elections: Mini-Publics as a Tool for Democratic Renewal, recorded live at the Samara Centre for Democracy.

🎧 Listen to the full panel: https://www.samaracentre.ca/articles/beyond-elections-mini-publics-as-a-tool-for-democratic-renewal

📹️ Watch the full panel: https://youtu.be/B6CTEN9u_mk

07/16/2026

Do polls tell the whole story about democracy?

Dr. Seána Glennon explains why polling is only one piece of the puzzle. While polls capture a quick reaction in a specific moment, deliberation gives people the time, information, and space to engage more deeply with complex issues—and sometimes discover they have more in common than they thought.

This clip is from Beyond Elections: Mini-Publics as a Tool for Democratic Renewal, recorded live at the Samara Centre for Democracy.

🎧 Listen to the full panel: https://www.samaracentre.ca/articles/beyond-elections-mini-publics-as-a-tool-for-democratic-renewal

📹️ Watch the full panel: https://youtu.be/B6CTEN9u_mk

07/15/2026

Can ordinary citizens handle our toughest democratic decisions?

Dr. Seána Glennon argues we've been asking the wrong question. The evidence suggests Canadians are more than capable of tackling complex issues when they're given the time, information, and opportunity to deliberate together.

The bigger question is whether our institutions are designed to bring out the best in us.

This clip is from Beyond Elections: Mini-Publics as a Tool for Democratic Renewal, recorded live at the Samara Centre for Democracy.

🎧 Listen to the full panel: https://www.samaracentre.ca/articles/beyond-elections-mini-publics-as-a-tool-for-democratic-renewal

📹️ Watch the full panel: https://youtu.be/B6CTEN9u_mk

07/03/2026

We're proud that our MP Exit Interview project has served as a key resource for aspiring politicians. The takeaways from over 100 interviews from across the political spectrum run the gamut but there's one thing that is common across the board - they all have important and insightful commentary about life in the House of Commons that all Canadians can learn from. Thank you Nate Erskine-Smith for referencing our work in your final speech in Parliament. Let us know when you're ready for your exit interview with us.

https://www.samaracentre.ca/initiatives/project-mp-exit-interviews

06/30/2026

Our CEO, Sabreena Delhon, has an opinion piece in The Philanthropist Journal titled “The Democracy We Want” where she presents three practical ways that philanthropy can support a resilient democratic culture in Canada.

Read the full article: https://thephilanthropist.ca/2026/06/the-democracy-we-want/

06/29/2026

Can democracy exist without disagreement?

According to Ana Brandusescu, dissent isn't a problem to solve—it's a healthy part of democracy. Being able to challenge ideas, question leaders, and engage in uncomfortable conversations is essential to building public trust and finding constructive solutions.

How can we create more space for disagreement while still working toward common ground?

This clip is from Democracy & AI, a live panel discussion hosted by the Samara Centre for Democracy as part of Toronto Tech Week.

🎧 Listen to the full panel: www.samaracentre.ca/articles/democracy-ai
📹️ Watch the full panel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrdGk51aias

06/26/2026

Is reducing friction always a good thing?

According to Dr. Beatrice Wayne, democracy depends on our ability to engage with disagreement, navigate difficult conversations, and make collective decisions despite differing perspectives. If AI tools remove too much of that friction, we may lose opportunities to challenge our assumptions and learn from one another.

How can we embrace the benefits of AI without losing the human conversations that democracy depends on?

This clip is from Democracy & AI, a live panel discussion hosted by the Samara Centre for Democracy as part of Toronto Tech Week.

🎧 Listen to the full panel: www.samaracentre.ca/articles/democracy-ai
📹️ Watch the full panel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrdGk51aias

06/25/2026

Can you still trust what you see online?

According to Anatoliy Gruzd, the challenge isn't just that AI-generated content is becoming more convincing. It's that these tools are being built into the platforms and products we use every day, making AI literacy as important as digital literacy.

What skills do you think Canadians need to navigate an online world where AI-generated content is becoming harder to spot?

This clip is from Democracy & AI, a live panel discussion hosted by the Samara Centre for Democracy as part of Toronto Tech Week.

🎧 Listen to the full panel: www.samaracentre.ca/articles/democracy-ai
📹️ Watch the full panel: https://youtu.be/xrdGk51aias

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Toronto, ON

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http://www.samaracentre.ca/, https://linktr.ee/samaracentre

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