Media advisory - National dialogue on democracy to take place in Montreal, 21-23 November

Results from four new national opinion polls of Canadians' views on threats to democracy to be released during Tenth Annual Trudeau Foundation Conference

MONTREAL, Nov. 18, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - In Montreal, from 21 to 23 November 2013, the Tenth Annual Trudeau Foundation Conference will be the venue for a national conversation on the four cornerstones critical to promoting and protecting democracy in the 21st century that are the Trudeau Foundation's areas of action: international relations, the environment, human rights and responsible citizenship.

No question is more vital than that of democracy as it is threatened on all sides, whether by growing inequality, by environmental degradation, by governments' dwindling capacity to manoeuvre in a global economy, or by repeated damage to human rights and dignity. The Tenth Annual Trudeau Foundation Conference is an opportunity to pause, regroup and make time for the important task of evaluating the risks at their true value and thinking about their root causes. It is also a valuable opportunity to consider the most promising solutions, share ideas that have proven their worth and build bridges between different approaches and between the people who have inspired them.

WHAT:	Democracy in the 21st Century - the Tenth Annual Trudeau Foundation Conference, with topics ranging from Indigenous rights in an ever-evolving Canada, to political shifts resulting form environmental changes, tensions between international financial markets and the common good, and citizens' search for justice. Plus: results of four new polls that provide intriguing new insight on how Canadians perceive different aspects of democracy.
WHEN:	21-23 November 2013
WHERE:	The Westin Montréal, 207 Saint Antoine Street West, Montreal, Quebec
WHO:	Keynote speeches and panel discussions with renowned Canadian and international experts on critical issues related to democracy, including:
Shawn Atleo, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, will address the fundamental relationship between Indigenous rights and human dignity in Canada. Cleo Paskal, a Canadian now based in London, UK, will show how massive environmental changes are causing an economic and political shift toward Asia. John Authers, senior investment columnist at the Financial Times, will explore the tensions between financial markets and democracy. Author, professor and democracy activist May Telmissany will ask how we can recognize and welcome new citizens who travel the world in search of justice and an unconditional welcome. A panel with Google's senior VP Patrick Pichette and former SSHRC president Paule Leduc on how globalization and information revolution impact responsible citizenship. A panel with researcher Bill Rees and advocate Art Hanson will debate the most pressing environment-related challenges to face humanity in the next 30 years. Two of the most respected figures on the international scene, Louise Arbour and Lloyd Axworthy, will delve into controversial questions related to Canada's role in the world. Human rights advocates Samantha Nutt and Stephen Toope will debate priorities, from popular protests, to religious intolerance, migrations and economic crises. Montreal's four major universities will establish the research areas in the social sciences and humanities that will be most relevant to Canadians in the next decade.

A limited number of free seats are still available for pre-registration on the Foundation's website: www.trudeaufoundation.ca/2013conference. Full speakers list and conference program available online.

SOURCE: The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation

Media registration and inquiries:
Roch Landriault
National Public Relations
514-843-2345
[email protected]

On site 21-23 November:
Elise Comtois
Trudeau Foundation
514-466-1575 (mobile)
[email protected]