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The mission of the CIC is to promote an understanding of international affairs and Canada’s role in a changing world by providing Canadians with a non-partisan, nationwide forum for informed discussion, analysis and debate. Accordingly, the cornerstone of the CIC’s work is our events program. The CIC national office and our branches hold more than 150 events per year in cities across the country. In particular, our branch events give members an opportunity to directly engage with global issues that often intersect with local concerns. The CIC also supports events outside of Canada, often in partnership with other global think tanks, that can introduce Canadian perspectives to global audiences. CIC events take on many different forms, from academic lectures and panel discussions to town hall meetings and pub nights. Please consult our events calendar for a listing of CIC-organized and sponsored events.

If you have an idea for a CIC event, please contact us at info@thecic.org.

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CIC National: The Crisis of Liberalism: In Conversation with Michael Bonner

June 23 @ 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm EDT

What do we actually mean when we talk about freedom, and what happens when we can no longer explain why it matters?

In his new book, The Crisis of Liberalism, Michael R.J. Bonner argues that liberal democracy is not being undone by external threats, but by a deeper internal problem: a loss of confidence in the ideas that once sustained it. Concepts like individual liberty, equality, and moral responsibility may rest on foundations modern societies no longer fully understand or believe.

Join us for a fireside chat and reception as Bonner sits down with Peter Biro of Section1 to unpack the historical roots of liberal thought and explore the philosophical tensions shaping today’s political landscape. Together, they will move beyond headlines and into the intellectual core of the debate, examining where liberalism came from, how it evolved, and whether it can endure in its current form.

Designed as the opening event in a national conversation, this discussion will provide a clear and compelling entry point into one of the most pressing questions facing Canada and other liberal democracies today: Can a society remain free if it no longer understands the basis of that freedom?

Copies of the book will be available for purchase courtesy of the Ben McNally Bookstore.

DATE & TIME
Tuesday June 23, 2026
Doors open 5:00PM
Fireside chat begins at 5:30PM
Reception begins at 6:30PM

VENUE
Faculty Club, Main Lounge
41 Willcocks St, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3

REGISTRATION
This is a free event. Limited seating available so registration is required. Refreshments will be provided during the reception.

EVENT CONTACT
Jennifer Chylinski | jennifer@thecic.org| 647-875-3313

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SPEAKER BIOS

Michael R.J. Bonner is a communications and public policy advisor, and a historian with a PhD from the University of Oxford. His scholarship examines how ideas about freedom, morality, and authority have evolved over time. Bonner is the author of several books, including The Crisis of Liberalism, where he explores the philosophical foundations of modern freedom and the challenges facing liberal democracy today.

Peter L. Biro is the Founder of democracy and civics think-tank, Section 1, Senior Fellow of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy, Professional Associate of the UBC Research Group on Constitutional Law and Legal Studies, and Chair Emeritus of the Jane Goodall Institute. He is Adjunct Professor at the Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law, University of Toronto. His newest book, forthcoming in the fall, is Imperfect Ideal: Essays on Liberal Democracy in the Real World (Dundurn Press).

Details

Venue

  • Faculty Club
  • 41 Willcocks St
    Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G3 Canada     + Google Map