Posters

P02 - Posters Session 1

Date: Jun 3 | Time: 10:30am to 12:00pm | Location: Poster Session Gallery - Atrium at the Centre for Hospitality And Culinary Arts (CHCA) - 300 Adelaide Street East | Refreshments! Rafraîchissements!

Refreshments will be served before the event, join us!
Des rafraîchissements seront servis avant l'événement, rejoignez-nous !

Jurors:
Nicole Bernhardt (University of Toronto Scarborough)
Roshan Jahangeer (York University (Glendon)
Arjun Tremblay (University of Regina)

Prizes! Winner $700; first runner up $400; second runner up $200
Prix ! Le/a lauréate 700 $ ; deuxième place 400 $ ; troisième place 200 $

Part-Time Diplomats? The Role of Backbench MPPs Representing Border Ridings in International Affairs with the United States: Alex Salton (Ontario Legislature Internship Programme (OLIP))
Abstract: Thirteen provincial ridings in Ontario share a land or river border with Canada's powerful southern neighbor, the United States of America. Indeed, the southern tip of the province protrudes into the American Midwest creating a long border facilitating trade, migration, and a set of shared political and environmental issues. While the Canadian federal government is primarily responsible for conducting diplomacy with foreign powers and representing Canada abroad, the provinces have become increasingly involved in international relations. Existing literature, for example, has examined the role of provincial governments in negotiating the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the European Union. Considering the federal and provincial governments both handle international affairs, this paper asks what the role is of backbench Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) in negotiating agreements, building cross-border infrastructure projects, and addressing other U.S-Canada issues. Backbench MPPs do not have official portfolios or responsibilities in dealings with the U.S., but the importance of border issues in their ridings and their position as representatives mean that they could have de facto roles in cross-border relations. The extent of their involvement—and what it might add to discussions about Canadian federalism and parliamentary representation—has not been thoroughly explored in the literature. Semi-structured interviews with MPPs in border ridings will be used to illuminate how they navigate the political landscape between the federal and provincial government, U.S. officials, transnational corporations, and other organizations to represent their constituents.

Honourable Speaker, On a Point of Privilege: Queen’s Park Perspectives on Modern Challenges of Parliamentary Privilege.: Megan Ryan-Lloyd (Ontario Legislature Internship Programme (OLIP))
Abstract: Parliamentary privilege encompasses special rights, powers and immunities deemed necessary to protect legislative institutions and their Members so they can effectively carry out their parliamentary functions of debating and legislating. Some Parliaments have opted to codify their privileges to assert and alleviate uncertainty inherent in recognizing and exercising parliamentary privilege. The potential benefits and drawbacks of doing so are discussed in many modern contexts. The Legislative Assembly of Ontario stands out for its unique approach to formally codifying certain privileges within its Legislative Assembly Act. However, given the fundamental necessity for legislative institutions and their Members to rely upon parliamentary privilege, should there be changes to assert further, clarify or modernize how the Legislative Assembly of Ontario outlines these privileges? This paper will rely upon Ontario MPPs' understanding of parliamentary privilege to highlight the application of parliamentary privilege

Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk: Exploring Indigenous Language, Politics, and Procedure at Queen's Park: Madeline Ritter (Ontario Legislature Internship Programme (OLIP))
Abstract: What happens when tradition gets rewritten? Though parliamentary traditions and procedures may be crucial in maintaining democratic practices, there may also be an impetus to amend tradition and procedure in pursuit of other democratic values and aspirations. Based on my review of the literature, I argue that there is a gap in the scholarship regarding the intersection of procedure, and Indigenous representation and justice at Queen’s Park. This paper fills this gap by asking the following questions: (1) what are the implications for the functions of the Ontario Legislative Assembly based on changes to the Standing Orders to include Indigenous languages? And (2), what is the role of Indigenous language in parliamentary democracies, particularly in creating meaningful reconciliation within colonial states? A comprehensive, scoping review of the literature will provide key context surrounding triumphs and challenges for multi-lingual parliamentary democracies, in Canadian and comparative perspectives. Semi-structured interviews with select MPPs and Assembly staff will also be conducted. Through inductive, thematic analysis of the interview responses, I hope to provide first-hand insight into the procedural, practical, and principled considerations for allowing Indigenous languages to be spoken in the House at Queen’s Park. In an academic context, this study is valuable by providing a unique analysis which pairs procedural and cultural lenses to explore political milestones in Ontario’s democracy. In an applied context, the study promises to generate knowledge that can be used to guide professionals in the civil service for meaningfully integrating Indigenous languages in parliamentary democracies.

Keeping Up with the Times: How the Legislative Assembly of Ontario Has Adapted to New Realities: Ayesha Ali (Ontario Legislature Internship Programme (OLIP))
Abstract: In recent history, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario (LAO) has had to contend with multiple emerging pressures and trends. In this paper, I will argue that the LAO has responded accordingly within different branches and through new approaches to the workings of the legislature. This paper aspires to contribute to the wealth of existing literature on the evolution of the Assembly in terms of legislative procedure, digitization efforts, and integration of Truth and Reconciliation principles. In the first thematic section, the paper will contemplate how the Assembly has had to update its technological processes through digitization in order to effectively respond to the increased need for remote options for access and engagement with materials in response to the global pandemic. Secondly, aspects of tradition such as ceremonial dress have changed in response to the modernizing pressures on the Assembly. Additionally, the reproduction of Hansard and the Standing Orders have evolved in accordance with digitization trends and the inclusion of Indigenous languages in the House. Next, security strategy has changed in order to remain agile and attentive following new emerging threats and the recent Parliament Hill shooting. Lastly, citizen engagement approaches have adapted in response to the growing diverse population of Ontarians and their interests, so to more effectively tailor engagement opportunities. As a result, the LAO has evolved over the last few years to not only adapt but remain adaptable given the knowledge that conditions can be ever-changing.

Balancing Security Concerns and Access to Democracy at Constituency Offices Across Ontario: Nika Lennox (Ontario Legislature Internship Programme (OLIP))
Abstract: As physical representations of Ontario’s political system conveniently located on ‘Main Street’, provincial constituency offices are often the first target of the public’s ire. With the recent rise in polarization and distrust in government, security concerns at constituency offices have grown more severe. High profile cases of vandalism and an increase in threats towards politicians have led many MPPs to heighten security measures at their local constituency office. Many of these security measures—such as locked door policies, and digital-only constituency meetings—have the secondary effect of acting as barriers to the public’s ability to access the unique services constituency offices provide. The hyper local role constituency offices play is core to the function of representative democracy, and the case work undertaken by staff often reaches some of the most underserved members of society. While the increase in constituency office security has been closely covered at the federal level, there is a gap in the literature regarding the manifestation of these trends in Ontario. Relying on interviews with staff and a comprehensive overview of policy changes, this paper will explore the democratic implications of increased security measures at constituency offices across Ontario.

Parity in the Pink Palace: Reflections and Perspectives on Methods for Increased Gender Representation from the Ontario Legislative Assembly: Annie Dowd (Ontario Legislature Internship Programme (OLIP))
Abstract: Currently, the Ontario Legislative Assembly does not fall within the federally identified gender “parity zone.” This research paper will examine the perspectives and reflections of parliamentarians in the Ontario Legislative Assembly regarding specific methods of augmenting gender representation in provincial politics. The methods discussed have been implemented in other parliaments internationally, provincial legislatures nationally, or have been addressed at the federal level. These methods include reserved seats for women, gender quotas, financial party incentives, campaign schools, mentorship programs, and the implementation of gender-sensitive workplace initiatives. Through a series of exploratory interviews, this paper will analyze how Ontario Members of Provincial Parliament view various methods designed to increase women’s and gender-diverse representation in politics. Some research questions include, which methods do Members view as most effective, what do Members envision as potential challenges to implementation and mitigation strategies, and how such methods might practically unfold at the provincial level; research will be specific to the Members’ experience in provincial politics. Drawing on qualitative research derived from experiential reflections, this paper strives to identify commonalities and recommendations based on Member responses across parties. While past studies have examined the perspectives of federal MPs, this paper aims to contribute a unique provincial perspective focused on the Ontario Legislative Assembly, contextualizing its findings within a broader national and inter-parliamentary conversation regarding gender representation in legislatures.

Voice of the People: Establishing the relationship between political discussions on Social Media and mentions in the Ontario Provincial Parliament: Massimo Rigatto (Ontario Legislature Internship Programme (OLIP))
Abstract: As more constituents turn to social media platforms to voice their political opinions, it is imperative that quantitative research is conducted to assess how strong of an influence social media discussions have on the choices of Members of Provincial Parliament in communicating these interests in the House. I argue that we require further research on these topics, specifically the relationship between political discussions on social media and the frequency of topics discussed in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. This study will identify key thematic topics in Ontario political dialogue - such as healthcare, education, transit, etc. - and measure the frequency at which they appear on Reddit compared to when the topic is mentioned in the House. This study will employ a temporal approach to collect data from social media, organized by date and context, to control for confounding variables. To collect the data from Reddit, a developer tool known as the Reddit API will be used to gather large tranches of posts sorted by date and based on particular key words. Upon establishing a correlation, or lack there-of, recommendations will be made to help legislators better use social media for political representation in the modern age.

Blurred Borders: The Intersections of Provincial and International Affairs at Queen’s Park: Sayyidah Jaffer (Ontario Legislature Internship Programme (OLIP))
Abstract: While global affairs undoubtedly impact disparate communities, including diasporic and geographically distant locales, this paper seeks to examine the extent to which international affairs are addressed and acted on within provincial legislation in Ontario. Demonstrations on the lawn of Queen’s Park are indicators of public discontent with policy and policymakers, but their demands often transcend issues of provincial jurisdiction, crossing into the realm of foreign relations and geopolitics. As such, issues that are typically understood as falling within federal jurisdiction are not exempt from appearing in the realm of provincial politics. This paper analyzes the theoretical and material impact of international conflict on House proceedings and legislation at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, with a focus on the last three years, between 2021 and 2024. In particular, it asks how issues generally characterized as outside of provincial jurisdiction are dealt with at the epicentre of Ontario politics. This paper uses mixed qualitative methods to respond to a multifaceted question. First, the essay employs discursive analysis to examine Member’s Statements and Bills tabled at the Ontario Legislature that reference international affairs. Second, interviews will be conducted with backbencher Members of Provincial Parliament and Clerks, to better understand how they interact with international affairs in a provincial policy setting. Whether current affairs abroad trigger a simple acknowledgement in the House, or lead to Royal Assent of provincial legislation, this paper seeks to understand the varying degrees and motivations of Members when addressing international conflicts at Queen’s Park.

Evidence-Based Decision Making in the Ontario Legislature: How Do Standing Committee Members Collect and Appraise Qualitative and Quantitative Data?: Caitlin Arizala (Ontario Legislature Internship Programme (OLIP))
Abstract: In order to examine bills, motions, estimates, and provide informed recommendations to the House, parliamentary standing committees are vested with a distinct mandate to conduct inquiries and gather comprehensive data. Standing committees are recognized for soliciting public input through various channels, including witness testimonies, written submissions, and public hearings. However, limited scholarly attention has been given to how Ontario’s Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) systematically collect and critically evaluate high-quality data for committee deliberations. This paper aims to provide practical insights into the methods Ontario’s standing committees use to collect and appraise qualitative and quantitative data for legislative review of bills. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with government, opposition, and independent Ontario MPPs serving on standing committees during the forty-third Parliament, along with committee clerks who support these processes. Thematic analysis will reveal perceived differences in the methods used to appraise qualitative public input versus quantitative reporting, as well as the interpretation of diverse evidence within the partisan contexts of committees.

Minority Rule: Politics in Visible Minority Majority Ridings: James Liao (Ontario Legislature Internship Programme (OLIP))
Abstract: Immigrants constitute the largest share of the Canadian population in over 150 years at 23% and one million new Canadian citizens will be eligible to participate in the 2025 elections compared to 2021. Given the high levels of immigration and citizenship among visible minority communities, the number of ridings where visible minority groups form the majority of the electorate has increased from one in six ridings in the 2021 federal elections to one in five in 2025. This recent development has garnered much attention from political parties who have a vested interest in winning over these visible minority communities if they want to form government. Existing literature has shown that in some such ridings, political issues of interest to the voters may include diplomatic relations between Canada and the home country or even distant matters specific to the homeland. In other cases, while domestic policy may remain prominent, the understanding of a particular issue may be highly influenced by cultural differences which may create a policy solution space markedly different from the mainstream comprehension of the same problem. Considering these unique characteristics of these ridings, MPPs must adopt a different way of delivering their political message tailored to these visible minority groups. This paper aims to investigate how MPPs from these visible minority majority ridings differ in their approach to political messaging in comparison to their counterparts from other ridings. Through semi-structured interviews, this study offers insights into how MPPs represent the diverse demographics that make up modern Canada.