Latest News

Antonia Zerbisias has been telling people what she thinks ever since she could open her mouth. Her opinionating career dates back to Grade 9 when a cartoon commentary on a teacher resulted in her suspension from high school. The principal sent her home with a note calling her “rude, obstreperous and bold.” Her parents were neither amused, nor surprised.

Once she was punished for being that way. Now she makes it pay.

Antonia is National Newspaper Award-winning critic, who has covered media, Quebec politics and, most recently, social justice issues for the Star. A passionate feminist, she recently joined the features team where she will continue to write on women’s rights, while setting her jaundiced sights on other hot issues in the news as well as cultural trends.

Both her media blog Azerbic plus her current blog Broadsides have broken new ground for the newspaper, winning awards from her peers in Canada’s blogging community. She’s also a social media maven, with thousands of followers on both Facebook and Twitter.

A veteran of CBC-TV News, where she was both program host and reporter, Antonia, who also has a Masters in Business Administration, is one of the most versatile and accomplished writers in the trade.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Professor Cunningham’s main teaching is in the area of contemporary political philosophy with a focus on democratic theory. He has also taught environmental ethics and engineering philosophy.

Cunningham is author of The Political Thought of C.B. Macpherson (Roman and Littlefield, for its 20th Century Political Thinkers series, Spring 2006) and Theories of Democracy: A Critical Introduction (Routledge, 2002). He is also author of numerous articles and essays including “The Global Public and its Problems,” Democracy in a Global World (Roman & Littlefield, forthcoming) and “Counter-Oppressive Terrorism,” Moral Issues in Global Perspective (Broadview Press, 2006).

Professor Cunningham received his B.A. from Indiana University, his MA from the University of Chicago, and his PhD from the University of Toronto. He has held visiting positions at universities in China, Italy, Japan, and the Netherlands.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Professor Cunningham’s main teaching is in the area of contemporary political philosophy with a focus on democratic theory. He has also taught environmental ethics and engineering philosophy.

Cunningham is author of The Political Thought of C.B. Macpherson (Roman and Littlefield, for its 20th Century Political Thinkers series, Spring 2006) and Theories of Democracy: A Critical Introduction (Routledge, 2002). He is also author of numerous articles and essays including “The Global Public and its Problems,” Democracy in a Global World (Roman & Littlefield, forthcoming) and “Counter-Oppressive Terrorism,” Moral Issues in Global Perspective (Broadview Press, 2006).

Professor Cunningham received his B.A. from Indiana University, his MA from the University of Chicago, and his PhD from the University of Toronto. He has held visiting positions at universities in China, Italy, Japan, and the Netherlands.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Professor Russell is professor emeritus in political science at the University of Toronto and an expert in the Canadian Constitution. He is frequently interviewed by the media – recently on the subject of prorogation. The title of his talk will be “The Unsound Constitutional Foundations of Canada’s Parliamentary Democracy”.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Wayne Smith is Operations Coordinator for Free Geek Toronto, a non-profit organization that teaches people to make new computers from old. He is a passionate advocate for human rights, with a special interest in economic, social and cultural rights, and is a former Chair of the Amnesty International Toronto Organization. He is also a Campaign Coordinator for Fair Vote Canada, a national grassroots movement for fair voting reform. Wayne is a former national President of Fair Vote Canada, and was the founding Chair of the Fair Vote Canada Toronto Chapter and founding Director of the Fair Vote Ontario Campaign. He has been working for fair voting reform for ten years and doesn’t know when to quit.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

A number of Canadians Advocating Political Participation Chapters will be hosting a national day of dialogue between Saturday, May 8th and Saturday, May 15th. The objective of the National Week of Dialogue is simple. We hope to organize forums where citizens will be able to come together to exchange thoughts on how to address the precipitous downturn in voter participation.

If you are interested in being involved in this non-partisan pro-Democracy forum please contact a chapter representative in your community: http://canadaparticipates.ca/local-chapters/

If you community is not listed, please feel free to contact Victoria Gare – cantbeserius (at) gmail.com or info@canadaparticipates.ca

With hope in our democracy.

Witby/Oshawa, ON

Regina, SK

Owen Sound, ON Contact: Darlene Giehler

Saskatoon, SK Contact: Elizabeth Ann M.

Thunder Bay, ON

Moncton,NB

Kingston, BC Contact: Jamie Masse

Kamloops, BC Contact: Joy McPherson

Windsor, ON Contact: Michelle Mainwaring

Coquitlam/Port Moody, BC Contact: Richard Dixon

Guelph, ON Contact: Angela Alt

Toronto, ON Contact: Justin Arjoon (jpeg.arjoon@gmail.com)

Turo, NS Contact: Ellen Durkee

Peterborough, ON Contact: Victoria Gare, capp_peterborough@live.ca

Vancouver, BC Contact: Glyn Lewis, galewis44@gmail.com

Newmarket, ON Conact: Liz Jefferson

Afghan documents debate heats up