#CBCAsks debate: Is politics broken?

CBC News hosted a live event Wednesday asking:Is politics broken?

CBC chief correspondent Peter Mansbridge moderated the event at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto.Canadians joinedthe conversation on Twitter by using thehashtag#CBCAsks.

The event was designed toengageCanadians in conversations aboutpolitics and democracy leading up to the 2015 federal election.

• CBC Asks: Yes, politics is broken
• CBC Asks: No, it's not
• Many Canadians distrustful of federal politics, poll indicates

On stage, two teams debated this statement: "The political process is no longer the most effective way to enact real change."

Debaters included:

• Sheila Copps, former Liberal MP and author.
• AndrewCoyne, editorials and comment editor at the National Post, and a columnist forPostmedia News.
• AlisonLoat, an author, university instructor, and co-founder of Samara.
• DaveMeslin, a writer, communityorganizerand trainer.
• Aisha Moodie-Mills,an American progressive strategist, policy analyst, and socialentrepreneur.
• Monte Solberg, a former ConservativeMP, and a columnist and adviser.

Loat, Meslin and Coyne argued for 'Team Yes' against Moodie-Mills, Solberg and Copps who made their case for 'Team No' in a lively debate.

Steve Patterson, host of CBC Radio's The Debaters, was the master of ceremonies for the evening's events. People were asked to vote to see which side would come out on top.

In the end, 76 per cent of the audience said our political system is broken, roundly beating out those who said the systemworks.