How Is Canada Advocate Faytene Grasseschi Encouraging More People to Get Involved in Internal Politics?

TL;DR

Faytene Grasseschi’s national tour encourages Canadians to influence internal politics by learning how leadership elections work, buying party memberships, and voting. Her presentation highlights that only 0.2 percent of Canadians participated in each of two major party leadership races, showing how a small group can shape ballot choices. Read on for her findings, experience, and practical call to civic action.

Transcript

so i'm here at the canada strong and free networking conference which was formerly known as the manning networking conference with fei team groszewski she is a christian talk show host and the director of the for my canada foundation a political group so first of all fatin i guess maybe we can elaborate on that for those who maybe don't know you ca... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤩 There is a significant gap in voter engagement in Canada, with only a tiny fraction participating in key political processes.
• 🎓 Education on the political system is crucial in encouraging Canadian citizens to engage meaningfully in elections and civic duties.
• 🤨 Grassroots initiatives like Groszewski's tour serve to raise awareness and inspire hope amid pervasive disillusionment with political systems.
• 😑 The disparity between the number of potential voters and those who actively participate indicates a pressing need for outreach and education.
• 🇨🇦 Events like the Canada Strong and Free Conference foster critical discussions that can encourage greater civic involvement.
• 🥺 Groszewski's experience leading young Canadians to parliament demonstrates the importance of fostering early political engagement.
• 😘 The low membership numbers in political parties reflect a broader disconnect between citizens and the political process, calling for improvement in political communication.

Questions & Answers

Q: How is Faytene Grasseschi encouraging Canadians to get involved in internal politics?

Grasseschi is touring Canada with the Age Engage national transformation presentation to explain how political leadership processes work. She encourages concerned Canadians to buy a party membership, participate in leadership elections, and vote when those opportunities arise.

Q: What is the purpose of the Age Engage national transformation presentation?

The presentation uses data from major party leadership races and a federal election to show how few Canadians can shape consequential political outcomes. Grasseschi says the data can restore hope by showing people that they have tangible ways to affect change.

Q: What did Grasseschi find about participation in major party leadership races?

She calculated that 0.2 percent of Canadians participated in the Liberal leadership race in 2013 and the Conservative leadership race in 2020. She says those participants helped determine which choices Canadians would later have on the ballot for prime minister.

Q: What did Grasseschi say about the 2021 federal election?

Grasseschi said her calculations showed that 0.05 percent of Canadians, equating to 21,900 votes, determined whether Jagmeet Singh and Justin Trudeau would have the power she described. She presented this as evidence that a surprisingly small number of votes can have a major political impact.

Q: Why does Grasseschi emphasize civic education?

Grasseschi believes greater political participation begins with explaining how the process works. She describes herself as largely self-taught in politics and argues that people need practical information about memberships, leadership elections, and voting opportunities.

Q: What political engagement experience does Faytene Grasseschi have?

Grasseschi began leading teams of young people to Canada’s Parliament in 2006 to meet members of Parliament and senators. She says her organization has led 17 delegations and held over a thousand sit-down meetings with those officials.

Q: What media work does Grasseschi do?

Grasseschi hosts a weekly broadcast that addresses issues shaping Canada. She says the program airs primarily across eight networks and tackles a different subject each week.

Q: Why did Grasseschi attend the Canada Strong and Free Conference?

She wanted to meet people who love Canada and hear different perspectives, angles, and innovative ideas. She also wanted to attend the debate and coordinated the conference with a stop on her national tour in Ottawa.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Fei Team Groszewski leads initiatives encouraging youth to engage with Canada's political system and recognizes the importance of civic education for increasing participation.

• She highlights shocking statistics on voter engagement in past elections, revealing that only a fraction of Canadians influence key political choices.

• Groszewski's current tour aims to inspire hope and action among Canadians, utilizing data to promote grassroots involvement in leadership elections.