Manitoba Politics Conference - Final Agenda

POLITICAL STUDIES

Agenda For The Roblin Professorship Conference – Manitoba Politics, Government and Policy into the 21st Century St. John’s College, University of Manitoba November 20-22, 2008 NB: Presenters will have 15 to 20 minutes to “speak” to their paper (not read it) and discussants will have 10 to 12 minutes to present their commentaries. These time limits will be strictly enforced to allow time for general discussion. For each session, the discussants are listed in the order of the paper which they will discuss.

Thursday, November 20, 2008 6:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. – Reception 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. – Dinner honouring the Hon. Duff Roblin, P.C., O.M., C.C., LL.D. One of the most distinguished public servants in Manitoba history, Mr. Roblin served as Manitoba’s 15th premier. Mr. Roblin, whose grandfather Sir Rodmond P. Roblin also served as premier, was elected to the Manitoba Legislature in 1949 and became leader of the Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party in 1954. Mr. Roblin’s party triumphed in the 1958 provincial election, forming a minority government for the first time in nearly 50 years. Mr. Roblin’s party followed up this breakthrough by winning a majority of seats in the 1959, 1962 and 1966 elections. Mr. Roblin’s government made many significant contributions to the province by building new schools and hospitals, creating the community college system and enhancing flood protection by building the Red River Floodway. After unsuccessfully contesting the leadership of the federal Progressive Conservative Party, Mr. Roblin was appointed to the Senate in 1978, where he continued to make important contributions to discussions on national and international issues. In 2008, readers of the Winnipeg Free Press chose Mr. Roblin as the province’s Greatest Manitoban.

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Friday, November 21, 2008 8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. – History and Culture Presenters:

Professor Gerald Friesen, University of Manitoba, The Manitoba Political Tradition Professor Jared Wesley, University of Manitoba, Manitoba’s Contemporary Elite Political Culture

Discussants: Professor William Neville, University of Manitoba Professor Nelson Wiseman, University of Toronto 10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. – Health Break 10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. – Elections and the Media Presenters:

Professor Christopher Adams, Universities of Winnipeg and Manitoba, Realigning Elections Ms. Frances Russell, Winnipeg Free Press, Some Personal Reflections on Political Journalism in Manitoba

Discussants: Professor Jared Wesley, University of Manitoba Mr. Dan Lett, Winnipeg Free Press 12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. – Lunch Guest Speaker: Mr. Harvey Bostrom, Manitoba Deputy Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs, Contemporary Aboriginal Policy Issues 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Political Parties Presenters:

Professor Nelson Wiseman, University of Toronto, The New Democratic Party Professor Kelly Saunders, Brandon University, The Progressive Conservative Party Mr. Paul Barber, The Manitoba Liberal Party

Discussants: Professor Jared Wesley, University of Manitoba Professor David Stewart, University of Calgary Professor Allan Mills, University of Winnipeg 3:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. – Health Break 3:45 p.m. – 5 p.m. – The Manitoba Economy Presenters:

Professor Derek Hum and Professor Wayne Simpson, Manitoba in the Middle: A Mutual Fund Model of Growth Ms. Kerri Holland, The Agricultural Economy and Sustainability

Discussants: Hon. Greg Selinger, Minister of Finance Ms. Laura Rance, The Co-operator 2

Saturday, November 22, 2008 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Institutions of Government I Presenters:

Mr. Paul Vogt, Clerk of the Executive Council (Manitoba), Premier and Cabinet Mr. Herb Robertson, Reflections of a Retired Public Servant on the Changing Role of the Public Service

Discussants: Professor Kenneth Rasmussen, University of Regina Professor Paul Thomas, University of Manitoba 10:30 a.m. -- 10:45 a.m. Health Break 10:45 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Institutions of Government II Presenters:

Professor Jean Friesen, former Deputy Premier of Manitoba, The Legislature Irene Linklater, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, The Role of Aboriginal Political Organizations in the Policy Process

Discussants: Professor Paul G. Thomas, University of Manitoba Professor Kiera Ladner, University of Manitoba 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Lunch Guest Speaker: Mr. James Eldridge, retired Clerk of the Executive Council of Manitoba, “Reflections on the Practice of Federalism” 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. – Society and Public Policy I Presenters:

Professor Jim Silver, University of Winnipeg, Poverty and Social Policy Professor Joan Grace, University of Winnipeg, Women’s Policy Advocacy

Discussants: Professor Derek Hum, University of Manitoba Professor Susan Prentice, University of Manitoba 2:45 p.m. – 3 p.m. Health Break 3 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. – Society and Public Policy II Presenters: Professor Rod Clifton, University of Manitoba, The Accountability of Universities Professor Paul Thomas, University of Manitoba, Health Policy in Manitoba: The Past, Present and Future of Regional Health Authorities Discussants: Professor John Stapleton, University of Manitoba Dr. Brian Postl, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority 4:15 p.m. -- 4:30 p.m. Closing Remarks

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