Toronto City Council

• Perhaps most worrying, however, is the consistent trend that shows citizens are increasingly disillusioned with their democratic institutions.
• In the search for inspiration for methods of re-engaging citizens, Canada might look to Ireland.

Irish inspiration

• Citizens’ assemblies are a form of what are known as “deliberative mini-publics,” representative samples of ordinary citizens who deliberate together and make proposals for reform.
• In other words, the legitimacy of the minipopulus’s views would derive from the legitimacy of democracy itself.
• In each case, the assembly’s recommendations were put to referendum, but in neither case did the referendum pass.

Irish abortion laws

• In 2016, the Irish government established the first citizens’ assembly composed entirely of randomly selected citizens.
• Abortion was an explosive issue in Ireland since the controversial insertion of a 1983 amendment to the country’s constitution that effectively banned abortion in most circumstances.
• Nonetheless, the assembly ultimately recommended a radical liberalization of the law to allow for abortion without restriction for the first time in Irish history.

Not a silver bullet

• Indeed, the Irish Citizens’ Assembly has produced recommendations on other topics that have not achieved the same — or any — uptake.
• But since 2016, citizens’ assemblies have started to become part of the architecture of constitutional and policy change in Ireland.
• Citizens’ assemblies are not a silver bullet — their impact depends on the appetite of politicians to implement their recommendations and many other factors.

Canadian opportunities

• The Irish experience has shown that citizens are capable not only of deliberating on broad constitutional issues, but technical legislative matters too.
• What’s more, citizens’ assemblies can serve a particularly important role when elected representatives have a vested interest.
• Canada has so far avoided the more extreme attacks on democracy witnessed by its nearest neighbour, the United States.

Seána Glennon does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

• OTTAWA, ON, July 24, 2023 /CNW/ - The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, today made the following statement:
  "Over the last several months, I have, alongside the Toronto City Council, my fellow members of Parliament from Toronto, and many city residents expressed concerns regarding the availability of mobile wireless services within Toronto's subway system.
• "While all carriers expressed an interest in a coordinated solution, progress in negotiations has been limited.
• "Despite my request to do so, the carriers have not reached an agreement.
• "Access to reliable telecommunications services—and to emergency services in particular—is a critical public safety matter, and I will take all necessary actions to protect the interest of Canadians."

• TORONTO, Feb. 03, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As we moved from 2022 into 2023, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) housing market unfolded as expected.
• The number of January sales and the overall average selling price were similar to December 2022.
• Record population growth and tight labour market conditions will continue to support housing demand moving forward,” said Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) President Paul Baron.
• TRREB will release its annual Market Outlook and Year in Review report on Friday, February 10, 2023.

• TORONTO, Oct. 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of former Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) President, Cynthia Lai.
• Cynthia served TRREB as President in 2003-2004, and is fondly remembered for her dedication to the real estate industry, and passionate engagement with our REALTOR Members, with a cheerful and optimistic demeanour.
• Cynthia was a trailblazer and helped open the doors for other women.
• Cynthia championed the causes of her constituents and delivered services to residents that reflected the demographic make-up of her ward.