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#CBCAsks: Is Politics Broken?

Engaging Canadians in conversations about politics and democracy

Engaging Canadians in conversations about politics and democracy


CBC Asks: Is Politics Broken? It was a special CBC News​ ​​live​ debate of provocative ideas, setting the tone for this crucial year in Canadian politics. It's one of the many ways that CBC News is engaging Canadians in conversations about politics and democracy leading up to the 2015 federal election.

On stage, two teams of three debaters argued a motion moderated by CBC News’s chief correspondent, Peter Mansbridge.

The Motion: The political process is no longer the most effective way to enact real change.

The Debaters:
Team Yes:

  • Andrew Coyne - Editorials & Comment Editor of the National Post, and a columnist for Postmedia News.
  • Alison Loat is an author, university instructor, and co-founder of Samara.
  • Dave Meslin is a writer, community organiser and trainer.

Team No:

  • ​Aisha Moodie-Mills is an American progressive strategist, policy analyst, and social entrepreneur.
  • Monte Solberg is a former P.C. MP and is currently a columnist and adviser.
  • Sheila Copps - former Liberal MP and author.

The emcee: Steve Patterson, host of CBC Radio’s The Debaters.