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Canada

Healthy democracy (CA0069)

Overview

At-a-Glance

Action Plan: Canada Action Plan 2018-2020

Action Plan Cycle: 2018

Status: Active

Institutions

Lead Institution: Canadian Heritage (PCH); Global Affairs Canada (GAC); Privy Council Office (PCO)

Support Institution(s): NA

Policy Areas

E-Government, Legislation & Regulation, Legislature, Marginalized Communities, OGP

IRM Review

IRM Report: NR

Starred: Pending IRM Review

Early Results: NR

Design i

Verifiable: NR

Relevant to OGP Values: NR

Potential Impact: NR

Implementation i

Completion: NR

Description

Healthy democracy
Issue to be addressed
There is growing evidence that trust in public institutions is low and citizens are concerned
about campaigns of false information and ‘fake news.’
7 These factors can present a threat to
healthy democracy. It is critical for Canadians to have the tools and information to think
critically about public policy, so they can participate more effectively in democratic processes.
Commitment
The Government of Canada will build the resilience of Canadian democratic institutions in the
digital age, while respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms. We will:
• strengthen democratic institutions in Canada through modernized election laws
• strengthen international capacity to identify and respond to evolving threats to
democracy
• support a healthy and reliable news ecosystem in Canada
• champion diversity of content, and quality and transparency of information online
Lead department(s)
Canadian Heritage (PCH); Global Affairs Canada (GAC); Privy Council Office (PCO)
Milestones
What will we do? How we will know we succeeded? What is our
deadline?
6.1 Strengthen democracy and
democratic institutions in
Canada, both in advance of and
following the 2019 federal
election
(PCO)
Election laws are modernised to be more
secure, transparent and accessible,
including by:
• modernizing Elections Canada and
reinforcing the role of the
Commissioner of Canada Elections
• prohibiting foreign funding
• increasing transparency around
how Canadians are targeted by
traditional and online and
advertising
October 2019
7 See, for example, the 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer
32
What will we do? How we will know we succeeded? What is our
deadline?
Government of Canada delivers on
Budget 2018 commitment to support a
new process that would ensure that
federal leaders’ debates are organized in
the public interest and improve
Canadians’ knowledge of the parties,
their leaders and their policy positions
October 2019
6.2 Leverage the G7 Rapid
Response Mechanism (RRM)8
to strengthen international
capacity to identify and
respond to a diversity of
evolving threats to democracy,
including through sharing
information and analysis, and
identifying opportunities for
coordinated responses
(GAC)
The RRM is fully operationalized, and the
coordination unit at Global Affairs Canada
is established
November 2018
The RRM Focal Points convene on a
regular basis
Ongoing through
June 2020
The RRM will be tried and tested during
its first year of operation
January 2020
6.3 Leverage existing Canadian
Heritage programs, including
Youth Take Charge and Canada
History Fund, to support a
healthy democracy
(PCH)
Projects and initiatives are supported
with a focus on digital, news and civic
literacy for Canadians
June 2020
6.4 Support a healthy and
reliable news ecosystem
(PCH)
Government of Canada delivers on
Budget 2018 commitment to provide
$50 million to support local journalism in
underserved communities
June 2019
Work has been completed to better align
the Canada Periodical Fund with the
reading choices of Canadians and an
increasingly digital world
June 2019
8 The RRM was launched after the G7 Leaders’ Summit in June 2018. Government of Canada officials have already
begun to operationalize the mechanism, establish a Canada-based coordination unit, and leverage open source
analytical tools to monitor threats.
33
What will we do? How we will know we succeeded? What is our
deadline?
New models are explored that enable
private giving and philanthropic support
for trusted, professional, non-profit
journalism and local news
June 2019
Media organizations are consulted to
consider how the government can further
support the transition to digital media
June 2019
6.5 Champion international
norms to support diversity of
content, and quality and
transparency of information
online
(PCH)
The Government of Canada hosts a
working session for experts on diversity
of content in the digital age to advance
the national and international
conversation on principles that should
guide action in this space
June 2019

Canada's Commitments

  1. User-friendly open government

    CA0064, 2018, Capacity Building

  2. Financial transparency and accountability

    CA0065, 2018, E-Government

  3. Corporate transparency

    CA0066, 2018, Beneficial Ownership

  4. Digital government and services

    CA0067, 2018, Capacity Building

  5. Open science

    CA0068, 2018, Capacity Building

  6. Healthy democracy

    CA0069, 2018, E-Government

  7. Access to Information

    CA0070, 2018, Capacity Building

  8. Feminist and inclusive dialogue

    CA0071, 2018, Capacity Building

  9. Reconciliation and open government

    CA0072, 2018, Capacity Building

  10. Open government community

    CA0073, 2018, Capacity Building

  11. Enhance Access to Information

    CA0042, 2016, Legislation & Regulation

  12. Streamline Requests for Personal Information

    CA0043, 2016, E-Government

  13. Expand and Improve Open Data

    CA0044, 2016, E-Government

  14. Provide and Preserve Open Information

    CA0045, 2016, E-Government

  15. Define an Approach for Measuring Open Government Performance

    CA0046, 2016, Capacity Building

  16. Develop Open Government Skills across the Federal Public Service

    CA0047, 2016, Capacity Building

  17. Embed Transparency Requirements in the Federal Service Strategy

    CA0048, 2016, Capacity Building

  18. Enhance Access to Culture & Heritage Collections

    CA0049, 2016, Capacity Building

  19. Enhance Openness of Information on Government Spending and Procurement

    CA0050, 2016, Capacity Building

  20. Increase Transparency of Budget and Other Department of Finance Information

    CA0051, 2016, Capacity Building

  21. Starred commitment Increase Transparency of Grants and Contributions Funding

    CA0052, 2016, Capacity Building

  22. Improve Public Information on Canadian Corporations

    CA0053, 2016, E-Government

  23. Increase the Availability and Usability of Geospatial Data

    CA0054, 2016, Capacity Building

  24. Increase Openness of Federal Science Activities (Open Science)

    CA0055, 2016, Capacity Building

  25. Stimulate Innovation through Canada’s Open Data Exchange (ODX)

    CA0056, 2016, E-Government

  26. Align Open Data across Canada (Open Data Canada)

    CA0057, 2016, Capacity Building

  27. Implement the Extractives Sector Transparency Measures Act

    CA0058, 2016, Capacity Building

  28. Support Openness and Transparency Initiatives around the World

    CA0059, 2016, Aid

  29. Engage Civil Society on Open Government

    CA0060, 2016, Public Participation

  30. Enable Open Dialogue and Open Policy Making

    CA0061, 2016, Capacity Building

  31. Promote Open Government Globally

    CA0062, 2016, Capacity Building

  32. Engage Canadians to Improve Key Canada Revenue Agency Services

    CA0063, 2016, Fiscal Transparency

  33. Implement Directive on Open Government

    CA0030, 2014, Open Data

  34. Starred commitment Open Data Canada

    CA0031, 2014, Open Data

  35. Canadian Open Data Exchange (ODX)

    CA0032, 2014, Capacity Building

  36. Open Data for Development

    CA0033, 2014, Capacity Building

  37. Open Data Core Commitment

    CA0034, 2014, Open Data

  38. Starred commitment Open Science

    CA0035, 2014, Science & Technology

  39. Starred commitment Mandatory Reporting on Extractives

    CA0036, 2014, Extractive Industries

  40. Open Contracting

    CA0037, 2014, Open Contracting and Procurement

  41. Open Information on Budgets and Expenditures

    CA0038, 2014, Fiscal Transparency

  42. Digital Literacy

    CA0039, 2014, Capacity Building

  43. Open Information Core Commitment

    CA0040, 2014, Right to Information

  44. Consulting Canadians

    CA0041, 2014, Marginalized Communities

  45. Starred commitment International Aid Transparency Initiative: Publish plan to make CIDA activities available and accessible

    CA0010, 2012, Aid

  46. International Aid Transparency Initiative: Implement plan

    CA0011, 2012, Aid

  47. Opening Government of Canada Records: Increase access to archived federal documents at Library and Archives Canada

    CA0012, 2012, Records Management

  48. Opening Government of Canada Records: Issue new mandatory policy on document classification

    CA0013, 2012, Records Management

  49. Opening Government of Canada Records: Make classified information available online

    CA0014, 2012, E-Government

  50. GCDOCS: Deploy wave one of electronic record and document management solution

    CA0015, 2012, E-Government

  51. GCDOCS: Deploy across federal government

    CA0016, 2012, E-Government

  52. GCWEB: Develop consolidated web presence

    CA0017, 2012, E-Government

  53. GCWEB: Implement new platform

    CA0018, 2012, E-Government

  54. Data.gc.ca: Expand number of datasets available

    CA0019, 2012, E-Government

  55. Data.gc.ca: Implement data.gc.ca portal

    CA0020, 2012, E-Government

  56. Data.gc.ca: Improve standardization of data

    CA0021, 2012, E-Government

  57. Government of Canada Resource Management Data: Publish resource management and performance data

    CA0022, 2012, E-Government

  58. Government of Canada Resource Management Data: Enhance search and data tools

    CA0023, 2012, E-Government

  59. Consulting Canadians: Develop new platform for consultation

    CA0024, 2012, E-Government

  60. Consulting Canadians: Develop standard approach to use of social media

    CA0025, 2012, E-Government

  61. Consulting Canadians: Pilot a crowdsourcing initiative

    CA0026, 2012, E-Government

  62. Consulting Canadians: Enable use of common online tools

    CA0027, 2012, E-Government

  63. Open Regulation: Federal regulators to post forward regulatory plans

    CA0028, 2012, Legislation & Regulation

  64. Open Regulation: Simplify engagement activities

    CA0029, 2012, Legislation & Regulation

  65. Open Government Directive: Issue Directive on Open Government

    CA0001, 2012, E-Government

  66. Open Government Directive: Implement Directive on Open Government

    CA0002, 2012, E-Government

  67. Starred commitment Open Government Licence: Issue Open Government Licence

    CA0003, 2012, Legislation & Regulation

  68. Starred commitment Open Government Licence: Adopt Open Government Licence

    CA0004, 2012, Records Management

  69. Modernising Administration of Access to Information: Pilot of online request and payment service

    CA0005, 2012, Fiscal Transparency

  70. Modernising Administration of Access to Information: Implement ATI Solution

    CA0006, 2012, Fiscal Transparency

  71. Modernising Administration of Access to Information: Make completed ATI request summaries searchable

    CA0007, 2012, Right to Information

  72. Virtual Library: Begin design of virtual library

    CA0008, 2012, E-Government

  73. Virtual Library: Launch virtual library

    CA0009, 2012, E-Government