May 7, 2025 @ 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm UTC-5
In Democracy Action Lab, we ask: What strategies and interventions will contribute to the long-term vitality of liberal democracy around the world?
While we know that democracy entails much more than just elections, the recent Canadian federal election poignantly demonstrates how rising global authoritarianism affects domestic contexts. Canada’s political landscape has shifted dramatically in recent months, from the stability reflected in the constitutional motto, Peace, Order, and Good Government, to new uncertainty largely driven by fraying relations with the United States. Marci Surkes, Chief Strategy Officer at Ottawa-based political consulting firm Compass Rose and former advisor to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will join us to provide an insider’s perspective of Canadian governance, examine the evolving tensions between Canada and the United States, and explore implications of this week’s election. Whether you’re steeped in Canadian politics or a novice, this session will offer key insights on the current moment in the context of eroding democracy around the world.
We will have 15-minute post-session “office hours” at 11:15am PDT | 2:15pm EDT | 7:15pm BST open to anyone interested in staying on to continue the session conversation or ask specific democracy-related questions of our facilitators and/or Forward Global peers.
Questions? Contact Jocelyn Berger: jocelyn@forward-global.org