Canadian Politics

A05(c) - Inside the Pink Palace II

Date: Jun 3 | Time: 03:30pm to 05:00pm | Location:

Chair/Président/Présidente : Peter P. Constantinou (OLIP Director)

Discussant/Commentateur/Commentatrice : Julian Campisi (University of Toronto)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.