We may not get to vote in the upcoming U.S. election, but there is no doubt that Canadians have a stake in the results.
With the first of three presidential debates over, Dr. Rosalind Warner, chair of Okanagan College's political science department, is providing some context and clarity with a talk on what all of this political discourse and the upcoming election results will mean to Canada and the world at large.
Warner, who holds a doctoral degree in International Relations and Canadian Politics from Toronto's York University, won't be forecasting the outcome of the election in Off the Rails: The U.S. Presidential Election, but will provide insight into how a republican or democratic president would affect Canada.
"The main question people ask me with regard to this presidential election is why it has taken this tone," said Warner. "People are wondering, is this politics as usual for the United States or is something different going on? And the short answer is that some of these issues are new and others are not."
Regardless of the outcome, Warner said, there are a number of important issues on the table that will have a serious impact on Canada, especially when it comes to U.S. trade policy.
"One of the things that is interesting about this race is that both candidates share similar views on trade and that should be a worry for Canadians," said Warner. "Every day Canada and the United States trade more than $2 billion in goods and services; that is extremely significant. With both candidates committing to curtailing open trade, Canada will be impacted."
Warner will also take a closer look at the role of social media in the lead-up to the election examining the role of the media as a watchdog and the importance of fact-checking.
"The world is concerned about the outcome of November's election, and Canada is one of the countries that will be most impacted," said Warner. "My goal is to provide understanding and context from a Canadian perspective and we will take a look at how we got here."
Warner will present on Oct. 24 in the lecture theatre of Okanagan College's Penticton campus as one of eight presenters participating in the college's Speaker Series, which takes place on Monday evenings between 7-8:30 p.m. through Dec. 5.
The Speaker Series is hosted by Okanagan College with admission by donation. All donations support the Dire Straits Fund, an emergency bursary for Okanagan College students.
To view the complete line up of speakers in the series, visit: OC Speakers Series