Samara Centre for Democracy

The Samara Centre for Democracy (formerly Samara Canada) is a Canadian non-partisan registered charity dedicated to realizing a resilient democracy with an engaged public and responsive institutions. Their research and programs are regarded as a go-to resource for active citizens, educators, public leaders and the media.

For over a decade the Samara Centre has shaped critical conversation about the health of Canada’s democracy. Key pieces of work flow from exit interviews with former Members of Parliament and include the 2014 national bestseller Tragedy in the Commons and the recently acclaimed podcast Humans of the House. In addition to examining the lived experience of politics, the Samara Centre is engaged in initiatives that examine technology’s influence on our democratic culture.

The Samara Centre’s insights are regularly featured in the media and the organization is known for producing evidence-based work that is bold, accessible and aimed at supporting a vibrant culture of civic engagement.

The Samara Centre for Democracy began as the Samara Project and was co-founded in 2007 by Alison Loat and Michael MacMillan. Sabreena Delhon is the CEO of the Samara Centre and joined the organization in 2021.

Origin of name and mandate
The organization is named after a samara, "the winged helicopter seed that falls from the maple tree." They note that as the seed of the tree whose leaves are the symbol of Canada, the samara "is a symbol of Canada, and a reminder that from small seeds, big ideas can grow."

Samara Democracy Reports and research
To date, the Samara Centre has released numerous reports, including:


 * The Real Outsiders: Politically Disengaged Views on Politics and Democracy
 * The Neighbourhoods of #cdnpoli
 * Occupiers and Legislators: A Snapshot of Political Media Coverage
 * Who's the Boss?: Canadians' Views on their Democracy
 * Lost in Translation or Just Lost?: Canadians' Priorities and the House of Commons
 * 50 Ways to Redesign Parliament
 * The Real Outsiders
 * By Invitation Only
 * Don't Blame "The People": The rise of elite-led populism in Canada

They have also conducted and released annual polls around democratic engagement and the political system in Canada starting in 2012.

Impact
The Samara Centre's research, reports and events have had a profound effect on the political landscape of Canada. The 2012 report, Who's the Boss?: Canadians' Views on their Democracy received wide media coverage across the country for its revelations that of growing dissatisfaction with the House of Commons and MPs. Their fifth report, Lost in Translation or Just Lost?: Canadians' Priorities and the House of Commons has been followed by a major series of pieces in The Globe and Mail newspaper called "Reinventing Parliament"

Following the release of the MP Exit Interviews reforms were made to the MP orientation to take into account some of the shortcomings identified in the report which was implemented following the 2011 Canadian federal election.

Tragedy in the Commons
In early 2014, the Samara Centre co-founders Alison Loat and Michael MacMillan published their MP exit interviews in a book titled Tragedy in the Commons: Former Members of Parliament Speak out About Canada's Failing Democracy (Toronto: Random House Canada, 2014). In the book, Loat and MacMillan argue that the Canadian House of Commons is in a crisis period requiring fundamental changes to the way the political institutions and parties operate.