PARKLAND INSTITUTE’S 17th ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE November 22-24, 2013 North Lecture Theatres, Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science (CCIS), University of Alberta Campus in Edmonton “A society without the means to detect lies and theft soon squanders its liberty and freedom.” – Christopher Hedges We would like to thank the generous support of the following sponsors for helping us make this conference possible: greetings from Trevor Harrison Welcome to Parkland’s seventeenth Then, of course, there were the Parkland conferences provide the annual fall conference. The Wikileaks/Snowden revelations. opportunity to meet new people institute has long prided itself on Suddenly, it seemed many people and catch up on old friendships. As addressing topics that are both could not access the data they in the past, I hope this conference current and vitally important to needed or speak about what they also informs you and inspires you the economic, political, and social knew, while the state was gathering to act. Please renew your Parkland health of Albertans and Canadians troves of secret information about membership, and make a donation, at large. us. It became ever more evident so Parkland can continue to make that information was being stifled a difference. Parkland relies on The title of this year’s conference, from the top while simultaneously contributions from you, and people “Facts, Fictions, and the being privatized and turned into a like you, to thrive. Finally, I want to Politics of Truth,” deals with a commodity by giant digital media personally invite you to come speak very contemporary problem: corporations. with me to discuss your concerns information. and insights. But even as concerned experts and Academics deal regularly with engaged citizens alike began to Warm regards to all, matters of evidence and how to organize around these issues, more establish and interpret information. basic questions began to present In the information age, the themselves. What is information? Trevor Harrison problem of sorting good or useful Is it just facts? What is “good” The Director and Co-founder, information from bad has become information? What does Freedom Parkland Institute even more difficult. But what if the of Information mean? Is the information isn’t gathered in the Internet a friend or foe? What is – first place? or should be – information’s role in Alberta’s and Canada’s economy? This was the problem many of us More broadly, what is information’s first became aware of when the connection to knowledge – or federal Government cancelled wisdom, or truth? And what is its Statistics Canada’s Long Form place in democracy? Census in 2011. Academics, researchers, engaged citizens, These are not easy questions city planners, and governments to answer. But in an attempt to from across the political spectrum begin to do so and to make clear objected to the decision to cancel it, what is at stake, Parkland has but to no avail. brought together a stellar group of community and academic experts About the same time, a number of from within and outside Alberta. scientists working with the federal Ultimately, as with all of our government began complaining conferences, the biggest question that they were prohibited from of all – and the one with the communicating with the public highest stakes – is, “What kind of and other researchers about society do we want – today and in their research findings. To the the future?” astonishment of many, white- coated scientists began protesting on the streets of Ottawa! PARKLAND INSTITUTE • UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA 1 FRIDAY CONFERENCE AT A GLANCE November 22, 2013 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Doors Open North Lecture Theatres, CCIS 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm KEYNOTE 1-430, CCIS Chris Hedges The Myth of Progress and the Collapse of Complex Societies When we go down, the whole planet will go with us. We must rise up in open revolt against the established systems of power that are herding us over the cliff or accept our death as a species. 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm Book signing by Chris Hedges, Book Sales by Audrey’s Books, and hors d’œuvres by PCL Lounge, CCIS Classic Fare Catering. SATURDAY November 23, 2013 8:30 am – 9:00 am Doors Open North Lecture Theatres, CCIS 9:00 am – 10:15 am PLENARY 1-430, CCIS Listening for Different Stories: Indigenous Knowledge and its Transformations Julie Cruikshank – How First Nations’ insights contribute to and challenge debates about academic and policy research in Canada’s North 10:15 am – 10:45 am BREAK PCL Lounge, CCIS Fairtrade locally roasted coffee and tea from Earth’s General Store and Pastries by Bon Ton Bakery 10:45 am – 12:00 pm CONCURRENT A. 1-140, CCIS Watching Workers, Sorting Citizens: Surveillance, Government, and the Workplace Jason Foster – “Your Call May Be Recorded”: The Evolving Boundaries of Workplace Privacy in Canada Adam Molnar – The Move Toward Government 2.0 Identity Management Systems: what’s at stake? B. 1-160, CCIS Creating Corporate U Judy Garber – ‘Committing Sociology’ and ‘Committed to Students’: A Vocabulary of Anti-Intellectualism Rob Sutherland – No Commercial Potential: Innovation without Profit 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm LUNCH Basement of the North Lecture Theatres, CCIS Catered lunch by Upper Crust for those who have purchased the meal plan (stamp on nametag indicates meal plan has been purchased) 2 FACTS, FICTIONS, AND THE POLITICS OF TRUTH • November 22-24, 2013 CONFERENCE AT A GLANCE 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm PLENARY 1-430, CCIS Public Policy and the Need for Evidence Munir Sheikh – Using Evidence to Develop Good Public Policies 2:15 pm – 2:30 pm BREAK PCL Lounge, CCIS Fairtrade locally roasted coffee and tea from Earth’s General Store and Pastries by Bon Ton Bakery 2:30 pm – 3:45 pm CONCURRENT A. 1-140, CCIS Culture Wars, Science Wars Paul Saurette – Thinking, Feeling, Debating: Data and the Conservative Movement Shane Gunster – Communication, Political Engagement and Climate Change B. 1-160, CCIS The Politics of Truth in Alberta Shannon Stunden Bower – Alberta’s Recent Track Record on Information Issues Kevin Taft – Who Defines Truth in Alberta? 3:45 pm – 4:00 pm BREAK PCL Lounge, CCIS 4:00 pm – 5:15 pm PLENARY 1-430, CCIS The Rise of the Native Rights Based Strategic Framework, Canada’s Last Best Effort to Save the Commons Clayton Thomas-Muller – The Power of the People can Save Canada’s Resources 7:00 – 9:00 pm SOCIAL Dewey’s Lounge in the Old Powerplant, U of A Campus Official Book Launch of Arno Kopecky Once in 15,000 Years: How the Northern Gateway Proposal Turned Risk into Safety Musical guest Dale Ladouceur Basement of the North Lecture Theatres, CCIS PARKLAND INSTITUTE • UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA 3 SUNDAY CONFERENCE AT A GLANCE November 24, 2013 8:30 am – 9:00 am Doors Open North Lecture Theatres, CCIS 9:00 am – 10:15 am PLENARY 1-430, CCIS No Science, No Evidence, No Truth, No Democracy Katie Gibbs – How drastic change in the scientific community is affecting democracy 10:15 am – 10:30 am BREAK PCL Lounge, CCIS Fairtrade locally roasted coffee and tea from Earth’s General Store and Pastries by Bon Ton Bakery 10:30 am – 11:45 am CONCURRENT A. 1-140, CCIS Crime and Crime Policy MJ Milloy – Scientific Evidence and Government Policy on Illicit Drugs: Lessons from Insite, Vancouver’s Supervised Injection Facility. Erin Gibbs Van Brunschot – Navigating Crime Policy: Issues and Evidence 10:30 am – 11:45 am The Framing of Evidence and Argument B. 1-160, CCIS Dave Cournoyer – How does Manipulation of Dialogue Influence Public Perception and Debate? Roberta Laurie – The Framing of “Ethical Oil” and Discourse Surrounding the Alberta Oil Sands 11:45 am – 12:00 pm BREAK PCL Lounge, CCIS Fairtrade locally roasted coffee and tea from Earth’s General Store and Pastries by Bon Ton Bakery 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm KEYNOTE 1-430, CCIS Inside the Fight for Digital Rights in Canada Michael Geist The Digital Rights Movement in Canada, Freedom of Speech and Privacy 4 FACTS, FICTIONS, AND THE POLITICS OF TRUTH • November 22-24, 2013 GENERAL INFORMATION FOR CONFERENCE GOERS 1. Coffee and pastries will be provided Saturday and Sunday morning. 2. Please bring your own mug. Disposable cups can be purchased for $2. 3. Lunch for Saturday is included in your registration fee, unless you opted out of the lunch plan on your registration form. Lunch will have vegetarian and gluten free options. If you haven’t purchased lunch, please feel free to brown bag it. There are also some vendors open on the main floor of the Students’ Union Building. All leftovers from our catered lunch will be sold by donation 15 minutes before the end of lunch break. 4. Your full-registration fee includes: - Chris Hedges’ keynote presentation - All plenary and concurrent sessions - Saturday lunch (opt out option available) 5. Please complete the conference feedback form that is in your conference package. You can also fill in an evaluation form online from our conference website (www.parklandinstitute.ca/parkconf2013). Your comments, ideas and suggestions are very important to us in our planning of future Parkland events. Thank You Volunteers! This conference has happened because of the time and energy that so many people have given freely. Over the conference you will see many people with VOLUNTEER nametags who will be helping with registration, ushering, food and more. Please help us thank them for their time. We couldn’t make this conference happen without them. We would also like to recognize the time, commitment and creative energy of the conference committee that brought it all together over the last ten months: Trevor Harrison, Randy Haluza-Delay, Meenal Shrivastava, Shannon Stunden Bower, and Stan Houston.