What we’re about
This is the virtual branch of CFIC, providing access to events and activities for those who do not have access to a physical branch, or are otherwise unable to attend meetings. (Which currently includes everyone during the physical distancing restrictions put in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic.)
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Are There Limits To Free Inquiry? Where Do Values And Ethics Come From? Does Science Have All The Answers? Should Multicultural Rights Trump Universal Human Rights? You’ve Got Answers? We’ve Got Questions.
Centre for Inquiry Canada is the largest Freethought, Skeptic and Scientific Advocacy group in Canada. We operate through 10 branches across the Country and incorporate the tireless efforts of hundreds of volunteers in our daily mission to advance knowledge and education in all areas of human endeavor. - See more at: http://centreforinquiry.ca/about-us/
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CFI Canada runs open and friendly events and discussions. Please help us to keep it that way!
In order to ensure that that anyone attending our events and/or discussions is able to participate fully, we are committed to providing a safe and hospitable environment for everyone, regardless of physical appearance, disability, body size, race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of participants in any form. If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact an organizer and we will work with you to resolve the issue.
While we accept that people do have differences of opinion, we expect discussions to be calm, reasonable, and without personal attacks.
The organizers reserve the right to remove anyone from an event if we deem their actions to be disruptive to the event and/or its participants.
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If you have any feedback, suggestions for future speakers, or like to volunteer for the CFIC Virtual Branch, please contact the branch manager at: onurromano@centreforinquiry.ca
Upcoming events
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•OnlineCFIC Town Hall Meeting #6: Are we captive to group ideologies?
OnlineCFIC is continuing our series of town hall gatherings. Once a month, we gather on Zoom to discuss a selected topic relevant to our society and our democracy.
Join this month's discussion via Zoom on October 19 at 8pm EDT.
Title: Are we captive to group ideologies?
Group ideologies serve as the glue that binds communities, offering shared values, norms, and a sense of belonging. They provide frameworks for cooperation, governance, and identity. However, their strength in unifying can also become a limitation when they calcify into rigid dogmas.
Potential Drawbacks of Group Ideologies:
- Intellectual Narrowing
- Echo Chambers
- Resistance to Change
- Polarization
In this Town-Hall meeting we will debate the need for ideologies, their benefits and their drawbacks to individuals and society. Please come and join the discussion on 19th of October 20:00 EST Zoom.
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Topics are selected by polling CFIC members and the wider public.
These meetings are not planned to be webinars; the format will be a moderated discussion in which the attendees debate and discuss. Our objective is to nurture a culture of respectful and open-minded discussion, thereby fostering democratic and participatory citizenship. The leadership team provides a background document to introduce the topic, and will also include some questions, available for download from the CFIC website a week ahead of the Town Hall meeting.7 attendees
•OnlineChasing the wind
Online** Please Note**
Attendees must register on Zoom at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/O4wa2x2qRv6Rwti4c-RaewEdgardo Sepulveda is a regulatory economist with more than thirty years of experience in the telecommunications and electricity sectors. He has advised governments, regulatory agencies, companies, unions and consumer advocates in more than forty countries.
During this webinar Edgardo will present the paper he prepared last year published by Macdonald-Laurier Institute titled “Chasing the wind – The value of wind generation in a low-emission nuclear and hydro-dominant grid: the case of Ontario” (https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240724_Wind-power-Sepulveda_PAPER-v13-FINAL.pdf)
This paper tells the economic story of wind generation in Ontario. First, I provide an overview of wind generation’s impact on electricity costs, prices and subsidies: to keep prices low, Ontario subsidizes 70% of the cost of wind. Second, based on regression and cost-benefit analysis, I show that the costs of wind far exceed its societal and climate benefits for the 2020-2023 period. Due to its nuclear and hydro-dominant generation and elimination of coal, Ontario is already one of the lowest-emission large grids in the world and hence the climate benefit from any new zero-emission generation will be limited to the extent it can displace gas generation. Relative to other areas, Ontario’s wind capacity factors are modest and out of sync with gas generation, all resulting in a relatively low wind emissions offset. Third, we calculate a cost-benefit “break-even” wind price of relative very low, for the 2027–2030 period, meaning that wind cannot be cost-beneficial in Ontario in the short/medium term.
Edgardo has written extensively on the electricity sector. Last year he prepared a report on public ownership and re-regulation for the Alberta Federation of Labour (https://diversifyalberta.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/AFL-Report-Power-in-the-Public-Interest-October-2024.pdf). He has also written about electricity for Jacobin magazine, (https://jacobin.com/2025/05/ndp-public-power-unions-class), TVO Today (https://www.tvo.org/author/edgardo-sepulvedahttps://www.tvo.org/author/edgardo-sepulveda), and in his decarbonization website (www.edecarb.org).
Born in Chile, Edgardo received his B.A. (Honours) from the University of British Columbia and his M.A. from Queen’s University, both in Economics. He established Sepulveda Consulting Inc. in 2006.
Event Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025
Event Time: 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM (ET)10 attendees
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