Uploaded November 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Whether it’s by watching Last Week Tonight or by posting memes on Twitter, plenty of Canadians seem deeply interested in the spectator sport that is American politics. Why do we know so much about the US political system and yet so little about our own? Join El Jones, Suzanne Methot, David Moscrop, and Jean Teillet for a wide-ranging discussion about civic literacy, deconstructing Canadian governing structures, and that all-too-pervasive Canadian smugness toward the US. Moderated by Erica Ifill.
This video is part of The Word On The Street Toronto’s ongoing City Imagines programming, a wide-ranging series of free online discussions that consider urban spaces and the people who live and create in them.
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Featured Books and Resources
Legacy: Trauma, Story, and Indigenous Healing by Suzanne Methot: anotherstory.ca/item/jxxbdRJkVbIhOdEaMRrhxg
Too Dumb for Democracy?: Why we make bad political decisions and how we can make better ones by David Moscrop: anotherstory.ca/item/Hotw0wf-6PHPVcdw3lZbCA
The North-West Is Our Mother: The Story of Louis Riel's People, the Metis Nation by Jean Teillet: anotherstory.ca/item/ihViYpG-txXPtIhe1WBN-A
We encourage you to visit https://native-land.ca to learn more about the land you live on, wherever you’re tuning in from.
Connect with WOTS!
Website: toronto.thewordonthestreet.ca
Twitter: twitter.com/torontoWOTS
Instagram: instagram.com/torontowots
TikTok: tiktok.com/@torontowots
Facebook: facebook.com/torontoWOTS
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Timestamps
00:00 Intro & Meet the Panelists
5:15 Canadians Concealing and Forgetting Canadian History
12:32 Dominance and Eurocentric Power
17:50 Thoughts on Ideals of Liberalism in Canada
29:17 Power Distribution & History of The Orange Lodge
40:00 Indigenous Political Systems
44:24 Action in Participatory Democracies & Thoughts on Voting
55:02 Organizing Political Action & Thoughts on Governments Co-Opting Black People
1:01:35 Indigenous Health Crises & Trauma-Informed Care Act
1:06:18 How Young People Can Access Information on Policymaking
1:14:37 How Young People Can Get Involved
1:29:23 Final Thoughts & Thank You
Whether it’s by watching Last Week Tonight or by posting memes on Twitter, plenty of Canadians seem deeply interested in the spectator sport that is American politics. Why do we know so much about the US political system and yet so little about our own? Join El Jones, Suzanne Methot, David Moscrop, and Jean Teillet for a wide-ranging discussion about civic literacy, deconstructing Canadian governing structures, and that all-too-pervasive Canadian smugness toward the US. Moderated by Erica Ifill.
This video is part of The Word On The Street Toronto’s ongoing City Imagines programming, a wide-ranging series of free online discussions that consider urban spaces and the people who live and create in them.
--
Featured Books and Resources
Legacy: Trauma, Story, and Indigenous Healing by Suzanne Methot: anotherstory.ca/item/jxxbdRJkVbIhOdEaMRrhxg
Too Dumb for Democracy?: Why we make bad political decisions and how we can make better ones by David Moscrop: anotherstory.ca/item/Hotw0wf-6PHPVcdw3lZbCA
The North-West Is Our Mother: The Story of Louis Riel's People, the Metis Nation by Jean Teillet: anotherstory.ca/item/ihViYpG-txXPtIhe1WBN-A
We encourage you to visit https://native-land.ca to learn more about the land you live on, wherever you’re tuning in from.
Connect with WOTS!
Website: toronto.thewordonthestreet.ca
Twitter: twitter.com/torontoWOTS
Instagram: instagram.com/torontowots
TikTok: tiktok.com/@torontowots
Facebook: facebook.com/torontoWOTS
---
Timestamps
00:00 Intro & Meet the Panelists
5:15 Canadians Concealing and Forgetting Canadian History
12:32 Dominance and Eurocentric Power
17:50 Thoughts on Ideals of Liberalism in Canada
29:17 Power Distribution & History of The Orange Lodge
40:00 Indigenous Political Systems
44:24 Action in Participatory Democracies & Thoughts on Voting
55:02 Organizing Political Action & Thoughts on Governments Co-Opting Black People
1:01:35 Indigenous Health Crises & Trauma-Informed Care Act
1:06:18 How Young People Can Access Information on Policymaking
1:14:37 How Young People Can Get Involved
1:29:23 Final Thoughts & Thank You
