Deborah Coyne
GET UPDATES FROM Deborah Coyne
 
Deborah Coyne has, throughout her varied career, worked to build a better Canada. Lawyer, university professor, constitutional activist, public servant, writer and mother of two children, her skills and hard work have often placed her at the centre of the great public debates of our times. Deborah is currently an independent public policy consultant.

After completing a law degree at York University’s Osgoode Hall, Deborah earned a Masters of Philosophy in International Relations from Oxford University. Upon her return to Toronto, Deborah practiced law before embarking on an active public policy career.

Wanting to make a difference, Deborah served in the Prime Minister’s Office, the Business Council on National Issues, the Ontario Secretariat for Disabled Persons, and the 1986 Ontario Insurance Task Force.

From 1986 to 1988, she taught at the University of Toronto Law School. Beginning in 1987, Deborah became a leading figure in the constitutional debates that unfolded involving the Meech Lake Accord and the referendum on the Charlottetown Accord. As well as mobilizing civil society engagement, she was a co-founder of the Canada for All Canadians Committee and the Canadian Coalition on the Constitution.

Deborah subsequently worked at the Ontario Human Rights Commission, the Walter and Duncan Gordon Charitable Foundation, Informetrica Ltd. and the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board. She is the author of numerous articles and four books on a wide range of topics affecting Canada and Canadians. She has been a member of the Advisory Council and the Steering Committee of the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Policy Options, and the chair of the 2006 Liberal Party Task Force on Public Safety and Justice.

Deborah Coyne was the federal Liberal candidate in the riding of Toronto-Danforth in the 2006 general election.

www.canadianswithoutborders.ca

Blog Entries by Deborah Coyne

Governing For The People: The Changing Role Of Political Parties And Civil Society

Posted November 12, 2011 | 09:00:32 (EST)

This is the final part of a three-part series that discusses Canadian citizens' dissatisfaction with politics as usual. Part one dealt with the importance of refocusing on public services in the midst of government dysfunction. Part two proposed the creation of an accountable and dynamic council that facilitates...

Read Post

Transparency Is the Solution to Canada's Dysfunctional Government

2 Comments | Posted November 11, 2011 | 07:27:33 (EST)

This is part two of a three-part series that discusses Canadian citizens' dissatisfaction with politics as usual. Part one dealt with the importance of refocusing on public services in the midst of government dysfunction. Part two will focus on reforming intergovernmental relations to become more responsive to citizens....

Read Post

Canada's Dysfunctional Politics

1 Comments | Posted November 10, 2011 | 09:15:04 (EST)

This is part one of a three-part series that discusses Canadian citizens' dissatisfaction with politics as usual. Part one will explore how we must refocus efforts to address the disillusionment and disengagement of citizens.

Although it is too early to determine what impact, if any, the Occupy Wall Street...

Read Post

Building Better Governance for Aboriginal Canadians

Posted September 4, 2011 | 11:49:19 (EST)

This is the concluding installment in a four-part series that details the pressing need to rebuild confidence in our nation's leadership by developing long-term goals for which our federal government is directly accountable.

The first installment outlined the need for government representatives to look beyond political self-interest. The...

Read Post

Canada's Green Energy Plan: National Leadership Missing in Action

Posted August 26, 2011 | 12:09:00 (EST)

This is Part 3 of a four-part series that details the pressing need to rebuild confidence in our nation's leadership by developing long-term goals for which our federal government is directly accountable.

The first installment outlined the need for government representatives to look beyond political self-interest. The

Read Post

Rebuilding Confidence When Our Infrastructure Is Crumbling

Posted August 24, 2011 | 10:13:56 (EST)

This is Part 2 of a four-part series that details the pressing need to rebuild confidence in the nation's leadership by developing long-term goals for which our federal government is directly accountable. Part 1 discussed why Canada needs such a project. The following focuses on building and maintaining...

Read Post

Canadians Facing a Crisis of Confidence

Posted August 22, 2011 | 00:35:15 (EST)

This is part one of a four-part series that outlines the crisis of confidence in national governance, and the urgent need for Canada to develop clear long-term national goals for which our federal government is directly accountable. Part one focuses on Canada's need to break out of election-cycle thinking and...

Read Post

Senate Reform for the People, Not the Politicians

Posted July 4, 2011 | 08:54:02 (EST)

Reform of the Canadian Senate is long overdue; a respected, elected second house of Parliament is needed more than ever to ensure diverse regional concerns are well-articulated and integrated into national action in order to deal with critical 21st century challenges and to ensure a respected Canadian voice in world...

Read Post

Lessons From Election 2011: Stop Settling for Mediocrity

Posted June 7, 2011 | 10:12:28 (EST)

Contrary to the conventional wisdom, the Liberal party did not lose the recent federal election; rather, it was missing in action.

What has been portrayed, unfairly, as a personal failure of Michael Ignatieff is really the culmination, and logical consequence, of the party's abandonment, for over two decades now,...

Read Post