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
Anti-Corruption, Civic Space, E-Government, Legislation & Regulation, Marginalized Communities, Open Parliaments, Participation in Lawmaking, Political Integrity, Public ParticipationDescription
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
Commitments
-
User-Friendly Open Government
CA0064, 2018, Access to Information
-
Financial Transparency and Accountability
CA0065, 2018, Access to Information
-
Corporate Transparency
CA0066, 2018, Anti-Corruption
-
Digital Government and Services
CA0067, 2018, Automated Decision-Making
-
Open Science
CA0068, 2018, Access to Information
-
Healthy Democracy
CA0069, 2018, Anti-Corruption
-
Access to Information
CA0070, 2018, Access to Information
-
Feminist and Inclusive Dialogue
CA0071, 2018, Capacity Building
-
Reconciliation and Open Government
CA0072, 2018, Access to Information
-
Open Government Community
CA0073, 2018, Access to Information
-
Enhance Access to Information
CA0042, 2016, Access to Information
-
Streamline Requests for Personal Information
CA0043, 2016, E-Government
-
Expand and Improve Open Data
CA0044, 2016, Access to Information
-
Provide and Preserve Open Information
CA0045, 2016, E-Government
-
Define an Approach for Measuring Open Government Performance
CA0046, 2016, Capacity Building
-
Develop Open Government Skills Across the Federal Public Service
CA0047, 2016, Access to Information
-
Embed Transparency Requirements in the Federal Service Strategy
CA0048, 2016, Capacity Building
-
Enhance Access to Culture & Heritage Collections
CA0049, 2016, Capacity Building
-
Enhance Openness of Information on Government Spending and Procurement
CA0050, 2016, Capacity Building
-
Increase Transparency of Budget and Other Department of Finance Information
CA0051, 2016, Capacity Building
-
Increase Transparency of Grants and Contributions Funding
CA0052, 2016, Capacity Building
-
Improve Public Information on Canadian Corporations
CA0053, 2016, E-Government
-
Increase the Availability and Usability of Geospatial Data
CA0054, 2016, Access to Information
-
Increase Openness of Federal Science Activities (Open Science)
CA0055, 2016, Capacity Building
-
Stimulate Innovation through Canada’s Open Data Exchange (ODX)
CA0056, 2016, Access to Information
-
Align Open Data Across Canada (Open Data Canada)
CA0057, 2016, Access to Information
-
Implement the Extractives Sector Transparency Measures Act
CA0058, 2016, Anti-Corruption
-
Support Openness and Transparency Initiatives Around the World
CA0059, 2016, Access to Information
-
Engage Civil Society on Open Government
CA0060, 2016, Public Participation
-
Enable Open Dialogue and Open Policy Making
CA0061, 2016, Capacity Building
-
Promote Open Government Globally
CA0062, 2016, Access to Information
-
Engage Canadians to Improve Key Canada Revenue Agency Services
CA0063, 2016, Access to Information
-
Implement Directive on Open Government
CA0030, 2014, Access to Information
-
Open Data Canada
CA0031, 2014, Access to Information
-
Canadian Open Data Exchange (ODX)
CA0032, 2014, Access to Information
-
Open Data for Development
CA0033, 2014, Access to Information
-
Open Data Core Commitment
CA0034, 2014, Access to Information
-
Open Science
CA0035, 2014, Public Participation
-
Mandatory Reporting on Extractives
CA0036, 2014, Anti-Corruption
-
Open Contracting
CA0037, 2014, Anti-Corruption
-
Open Information on Budgets and Expenditures
CA0038, 2014, Fiscal Openness
-
Digital Literacy
CA0039, 2014, Capacity Building
-
Open Information Core Commitment
CA0040, 2014, Access to Information
-
Consulting Canadians
CA0041, 2014, Marginalized Communities
-
International Aid Transparency Initiative: Publish Plan to Make CIDA Activities Available and Accessible
CA0010, 2012, Aid
-
International Aid Transparency Initiative: Implement Plan
CA0011, 2012, Aid
-
Opening Government of Canada Records: Increase Access to Archived Federal Documents at Library and Archives Canada
CA0012, 2012, Records Management
-
Opening Government of Canada Records: Issue New Mandatory Policy on Document Classification
CA0013, 2012, Records Management
-
Opening Government of Canada Records: Make Classified Information Available Online
CA0014, 2012, E-Government
-
GCDOCS: Deploy Wave One of Electronic Record and Document Management Solution
CA0015, 2012, E-Government
-
GCDOCS: Deploy Across Federal Government
CA0016, 2012, E-Government
-
GCWEB: Develop Consolidated Web Presence
CA0017, 2012, E-Government
-
GCWEB: Implement New Platform
CA0018, 2012, E-Government
-
Data.Gc.Ca: Expand Number of Datasets Available
CA0019, 2012, Access to Information
-
Data.Gc.Ca: Implement Data.Gc.Ca Portal
CA0020, 2012, Access to Information
-
Data.Gc.Ca: Improve Standardization of Data
CA0021, 2012, Access to Information
-
Government of Canada Resource Management Data: Publish Resource Management and Performance Data
CA0022, 2012, Access to Information
-
Government of Canada Resource Management Data: Enhance Search and Data Tools
CA0023, 2012, Access to Information
-
Consulting Canadians: Develop New Platform for Consultation
CA0024, 2012, E-Government
-
Consulting Canadians: Develop Standard Approach to Use of Social Media
CA0025, 2012, E-Government
-
Consulting Canadians: Pilot a Crowdsourcing Initiative
CA0026, 2012, E-Government
-
Consulting Canadians: Enable Use of Common Online Tools
CA0027, 2012, E-Government
-
Open Regulation: Federal Regulators to Post Forward Regulatory Plans
CA0028, 2012, Legislation & Regulation
-
Open Regulation: Simplify Engagement Activities
CA0029, 2012, Legislation & Regulation
-
Open Government Directive: Issue Directive on Open Government
CA0001, 2012, E-Government
-
Open Government Directive: Implement Directive on Open Government
CA0002, 2012, E-Government
-
Open Government Licence: Issue Open Government Licence
CA0003, 2012, Legislation & Regulation
-
Open Government Licence: Adopt Open Government Licence
CA0004, 2012,
-
Modernising Administration of Access to Information: Pilot of Online Request and Payment Service
CA0005, 2012, Access to Information
-
Modernising Administration of Access to Information: Implement ATI Solution
CA0006, 2012, Access to Information
-
Modernising Administration of Access to Information: Make Completed ATI Request Summaries Searchable
CA0007, 2012, Access to Information
-
Virtual Library: Begin Design of Virtual Library
CA0008, 2012, E-Government
-
Virtual Library: Launch Virtual Library
CA0009, 2012, E-Government