Our Winter Courses
Our Winter 2026 program is all about Canada at
the Crossroads
All courses are fully subscribed. To go onto a waiting list, please e-mail us at [email protected]
We are offering four discussions/debates on key issues affecting Canada's future. Here they are:
Should Canada implement mandatory conscription/national service?
As Canada faces a radically changed security environment, we have committed to upping our defence spending. One way of increasing our defence capacity is to have young people trained to fight, to provide civil defence and to perform other nation-strengthening activities. Some love this idea. Others hate it. Many of our fellow advanced democracies do this. Should we? See a more detailed course description here
Fridays, February 6 and 13 2-4 pm
Is Multiculturalism still fit for purpose?
Multiculturalism is part of our national identity. It is one of the things that distinguishes us from the U.S. and many European democracies. But has it produced the kind of society we want? Some believe it has made for stronger immigrant communities. Others see it as creating unintegrated "ghettos". What do you think? See a more detailed course description here
Fridays, February 20 and 27 2-4 pm
Should Canada cozy up to China?
The United States is no longer Canada's friend. They are our enemy or close to it. We need to diversify our trade and geopolitical alignment. That means seriously considering not just our economic but also our diplomatic, technological and educational relationship with China. For the moment a security relationship is off the table but who knows? Should we look for much closer ties with China? See a more detailed course description here
Fridays, March 13 and 20 2-4 pm
Is Mark Carney doing a good job?
National leadership is critical to Canada at this time. Carney will have been in office for about a year by the time we have this discussion. He is definitely taking a markedly different approach to several issues from Trudeau despite wearing the same party label. But is it producing results? So far he has calmed the waters with Trump and Danielle Smith but what actual results has he achieved? Is he delivering what we need? See a more detailed course description here
Fridays, March 27 and April 10 2-4 pm
We may also do pop-up courses in response to the events of the day