LAC Forum on Canadian Democracy

About the LAC Forum on Canadian Democracy

The LAC Forum on Canadian Democracy promotes informed civic engagement online and in public by connecting Canadians with historical and contemporary information pertaining to Canada's democratic experience as embodied in the documentary heritage of Canadian government, governance and political culture.

The LAC Forum on Canadian Democracy is guided by three core principles:

• Access
  The LAC Forum on Canadian Democracy will enable Canadians to access and engage with LAC's collection and resources related to Canadian government and politics.
  
  
• Interpretation
  The LAC Forum on Canadian Democracy will illuminate Canada's political record with in-depth historical, contemporary and documentary context in order to educate and engage Canadians in the political process.
  
  
• Participation
  The LAC Forum on Canadian Democracy will contribute to Canada's culture of informed and open civic engagement by making public dialogue a priority in its specialized programming.

These core principles will be expressed through the Forum's online and live programming elements, as well as through a commitment to productive external partnerships:

LAC Forum Partnerships
The LAC Forum on Canadian Democracy initiative will establish partnerships with academic, cultural and governmental institutions in order to maximize resources, exchange knowledge, and maintain a high standard of informed programming. 

LAC Forum Advisory Committee
Peter Aucoin, Dalhousie University
André Blais, Université de Montréal
Margaret Conrad, University of New Brunswick
James Iain Gow, Université de Montréal
Craig Heron, President, Canadian Historical Association
Ralph Heintzman, University of Ottawa and University of Toronto
Betsy Jameson, University of Calgary
Ken Kernaghan, Brock University
Evert Lindquist, University of Victoria
Janice MacKinnon, University of Saskatchewan
Paul Thomas, University of Manitoba
Gilles Paquet, University of Ottawa
Jill Vickers, Carleton University
William Young, Parliamentary Librarian

LAC Forum Online
Serving as the first phase in the development of the program, the LAC Forum on Canadian Democracy was launched online in November 2007 as a showcase for key LAC collections, expertise and activities.

LAC Forum Live Programming
The LAC Forum on Canadian Democracy will maintain a public programming agenda in which public speaking engagements and supporting exhibition initiatives will promote civic dialogue among diverse cultural, academic, educational and professional audiences.

Online Features

Information Management
LAC has a mandate to facilitate the management of government information and undertakes this responsibility in many ways. This section introduces the diverse Information Management products and services offered by LAC.

Digital Resources
This section provides an annotated list of LAC's numerous databases, web exhibitions and other online resources that support the study of Canadian government and politics.

Educational Resources
This section provides an annotated list of LAC's online and published resources that support teaching and learning about Canadian government and politics.

LAC Collections
This section introduces researchers to the documentary heritage collections and resources at LAC that support the study of Canadian government and politics. These resources are divided into the following broad categories: Federation, Crown, Cabinet, Prime Minister, Parliament, Civil Service, Justice, Elections, and Citizenship.

Events
This section provides information on LAC Forum on Canadian Democracy's public events, updates to the Forum's website, and new resources available pertaining to Canadian government and politics. Visitors are invited to provide feedback on their experiences at events and suggestions for future events.

Political Perspectives
This section engages with current events, topical issues, and Canada's past and present political culture, through accounts by guest contributors including public figures, research specialists, collection donors, LAC staff, and other individuals.

Democracy Workshop
This section introduces new projects, resources, events and initiatives related to government and politics at LAC.

Aboriginal Issues
This section highlights past and present matters of importance to Aboriginal communities across Canada.

Access to Information
This section highlights LAC's Access to Information releases including the opening of major holdings related to current affairs, public figures and historical events.

First Reading
This section provides the latest LAC Forum on Canadian Democracy news releases organized by date.

Forum
This section provides a venue for user-generated discussion and exchange of knowledge.

Acknowledgements

Library and Archives Canada would like to thank the many contributors to the LAC Forum on Canadian Democracy, in particular LAC staff members who offered their unique expertise and insights, and the specialists across Canada who provided guidance. 

The LAC Forum on Canadian Democracy is a platform for individual Canadians to contribute their personal thoughts and thought-provoking commentary relating to Canadian politics and governance. Although these commentaries do not necessarily reflect the opinions and policies of LAC or the Government of Canada, we thank the authors for contributing to open debate and to the exchange of ideas that reflect the spirit of the Canadian democracy.

Special thanks to Jeremy Sandor and Karine Burger for their research services.