Valere Gaspard – The Conversation

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order after speaking during an AI summit on July 23, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

July 27, 2025

How do politicians view democracy? It depends on whether they win or lose

Valere Gaspard, Western University

Amid heightened concern about the current state of democracy around the globe, we need to better understand the attitudes and motivations of politicians.

A young voter queues at a polling station to cast their ballot in the September 2021 federal election. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

August 28, 2024

Canadian MPs need an incentive to lower the voting age to 16 from 18 — and there’s none in sight

Valere Gaspard, Western University

In 1970, Canadian MPs used the act of lowering the federal voting age as a tool to prevent further youth protests and unrest. No such catalyst exists today amid calls to lower the voting age to 16.

Back to the drawing board? The Ontario government’s changes to third-party election spending laws could be amended to fairly balance people’s Charter rights with meeting legislative objectives. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Geoff Robins

November 3, 2021

How Ontario can rethink its election spending law to ensure fairness, equality

Valere Gaspard, Western University and Alec Mazurek, Western University

Provincial regulations have major implications for the freedom of expression exercised by individuals and organizations in Ontario in the months leading up to the June election.

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