The economic tensions between Canada and America over the threat of imposed tariffs is the topic of this year’s Roger Watts Debate.
What: 12th annual Roger Watts Debate
Who: Top UBC Okanagan student debaters
When: Wednesday, March 26, 5:30 to 7:30 pm
Where: Mary Irwin Theatre, Rotary Centre for the Arts, Kelowna
US President Donald Trump’s back-and-forth approach to long-threatened tariffs against Canada has resulted in escalating tensions between the two countries.
While this timely issue has sparked controversy across the country, it is also the hot-button topic for the annual Roger Watts Debate. Next Wednesday, UBC Okanagan students will go head to head in a thought-provoking conversation about the current Canada-US trade war: “Be it resolved, that Canada adopt a policy of retaliatory trade tariffs against the United States, even at the cost of economic prosperity.”
“The Roger Watts Debate is a unique event because it showcases UBCO undergraduates as they learn to bridge the gap between the academy and the broader citizenry,” says co-organizer Dr. Renaud Philippe Garner, Associate Professor of Philosophy.
Student debaters have already competed in several rounds, and now the top students will face off at the final debate. They will argue their case before a panel of local judges who will then decide the winners. Prizes of $1,000 for the first-place finishers and $500 for the runners-up will be awarded. Participants will also have the opportunity to compete for the $500 People’s Choice Award.
“While the debate is both a competition and a show, it involves much more,” adds Dr. Garner. “The training process is designed to help students learn how to engage and persuade those with varying debate skills. All of us need to learn to effectively communicate within our local communities.”
The Roger Watts Debate is a partnership between the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences’ Department of Economics, Philosophy and Political Science and a community advisory committee. The annual event provides a public forum for debating important issues of the day and is named after the late Roger Watts, a respected member of the Okanagan’s legal community, a skilled orator and strong advocate.
The Roger Watts Debate is made possible through the generous support of its sponsors: the Central Okanagan Foundation, the Vancouver International Arbitration Centre and Sandra Watts.
This community event is free and open to the everyone, but pre-registration is required. To order tickets or learn more, visit: rotarycentreforthearts.com/events/event/rogerwattsdebate25.
