Legitimacy and Reconciliation in Canada

The Public Policy Forum is taking part in a global project, coordinated by The Centre for Public Impact in the United Kingdom, to explore the concept of legitimacy in government. The Public Policy Forum is one of seven organizations that will explore the concept of legitimacy; each country has adopted a different theme.

On Nov. 30 2017, PPF is partnering with the First Nations University of Canada and the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy to engage young Indigenous people in a conversation about legitimacy in government in the context of reconciliation for the Canadian conversation.

What does a reconciled relationship look like? How will we achieve this relationship? Does the Canadian government have the legitimacy it needs to achieve true reconciliation? Using an innovative “unconference” approach, participants will consider these questions as well as the:

·       The extent to which the Government of Canada has the legitimacy to deliver on its commitments to Indigenous peoples;

·       What actions the Government of Canada could take to enhance its legitimacy and promote transparency and trust;

·       The means/processes that could be established to strengthen transparency and trust between the Government of Canada and Indigenous peoples; and

·       How to better engage all Indigenous peoples – in particular, emerging leaders – in a meaningful dialogue on legitimacy and reconciliation.

For the purposes of this project, legitimacy in government is defined as “the reservoir of support that allows governments to deliver positive outcomes for people.”

Contact Rhonda Moore, Policy Lead, at rmoore@ppforum.ca for more information.