Cardus is pleased to invite you to join us for three days of rich debate and dialogue at our annual Cardus Exchange in Ottawa, happening May 6 to 8 and coinciding with the Canada Strong and Free Conference, hosted by our friends at the Canada Strong and Free Network (CSFN).

Our conversations will centre on the theme: What is government for? In Canada and the U.S., debates about the role of government in our society are taking a new shape. Even within the conservative movement, with its historical focus on small and limited government, we have seen the emergence of a post-liberal strain of thought that envisions a larger role for the state. Together, we will debate and explore some of the most critical public questions of our times: What is the proper role of the state in addressing social problems? What constrains state action? When is intervention from different branches of government justified?

We are excited to announce that Howard Anglin is returning to the Cardus Exchange to deliver our keynote address on Thursday evening: Culture and the Constitution of Canada. In conversation with Ray Pennings, Anglin will take on one of the defining questions of our moment—whether a country as fractured as Canada can still pursue a common good, and what subsidiarity, federalism, and a richer vision of national identity have to say about it. You can read more about Mr. Anglin’s keynote below.

Other sessions will include:

• What are the limits of the state? A primer on our theme with Cardus’s President, Canada Brian Dijkema (Wednesday evening).
• Can the state preserve national identity? A bilingual conversation on culture, religion, and Quebec, with Guillaume Rousseau, moderated by Cardus Quebec Director Jean-Christophe Jasmin (Thursday afternoon).
• Should the government make your lunch? A panel on the role of parents and the state in raising children, as seen in policies like school food programs, universal childcare, and more. How do parents conceive of their responsibilities, and what do they expect from the government? What is the role of the state when families are unable to live up to their responsibilities? This will be a conversation with Cardus program directors Joanna VanHof and Peter Jon Mitchell, and guest Karen Restoule (Friday afternoon).

Plus two Cardus in Conversation sessions: informal, floor-open discussions on palliative care and the state, and on subsidiarity and refugee policy, with Cardus program directors Rebecca Vachon and Renze Nauta. Registrants are welcome to attend some or all sessions.

Each year, Cardus Exchange draws over 150 attendees—MPs, political staff, and engaged citizens who take ideas seriously. Alongside the neighbouring Canada Strong and Free Conference, Exchange is a natural gathering point for the small-c conservative policy network. Tickets are limited—register today to secure your seat!