Protecting civic space and democracy in the digital era (CA0080)

Issue to be addressed
As digital platforms increasingly shape public discourse, the rights of free expression, peaceful assembly, and civic participation face new and growing threats. Canadians are navigating an online environment marked by rising misinformation and limited space for respectful public debate, which are conditions that erode trust, silence dissent, and weaken democratic engagement.

This theme calls for urgent attention to the design and governance of civic spaces and public debate. Without open, secure and inclusive digital environments, people risk losing the ability to express themselves safely, access reliable information and participate meaningfully in civic life. Transparent regulations, strong privacy protections and proactive digital literacy efforts are essential to preserve and strengthen democratic rights in the face of technological change.

Problem statement
In today's digital society, the fundamental rights to free expression, peaceful assembly, and civic participation must be built into its foundation. Canadians face growing challenges online, including misinformation and disinformation, which undermine trust, restrict dialogue and weaken democratic engagement. Without secure, inclusive and transparent digital environments that are supported by strong privacy protections and clear regulations the public risks losing the ability to participate safely in public debate and influence decision-making. This jeopardizes the health and resilience of democracy in the digital age.

Commitment
The Government of Canada commits to protecting strengthening the fundamental rights of free expression, peaceful assembly, and civic participation. It will create open, secure and inclusive digital spaces to support respectful, informed dialogue and meaningful civic engagement. Through these activities, it aims to strengthen democratic values and make sure Canadians can participate safely and confidently in debate and in shaping government policy.

What will we do?
2.1 Establish an organization-wide approach to conducting public participation activities with Canadian communities. Engage with communities on a wide variety of topics and encourage feedback at multiple levels to demonstrate the RCMP's commitment to the principles in the Government of Canada (GC) Digital Standards: Playbook
2.1.1. Publish the RCMP Public Participation Framework and accompanying guidebook. By summer 2025. RCMP
2.1.2. Promote the framework and guidebook throughout the RCMP to facilitate their adoption and implementation. By summer 2025. RCMP
2.1.3. Create an ethics and personal data tool to ensure that data is collected legally and ethically during public consultations. By summer 2025. RCMP

2.2 Improve the effectiveness of the Digital Citizen Initiative
2.2.1. Prepare a draft paper that assesses progress to date, identifies domestic and international best practices, and lays out potential approaches to strengthen Canadians' resilience to online disinformation. By April 2026. PCH
2.2.2. Consult on the paper with government and non-government partners. By spring 2026. PCH
2.2.3. Develop a revised knowledge-sharing and communications strategy for the Digital Citizen Initiative. By June 2026. PCH
2.2.4. Host three events to build capacity and share best practices among researchers and civil society organizations that work in civic engagement and digital media literacy. By 2026. PCH

2.3 Increase Canadians' access to government information
2.3.1. Renew and revise LAC's Access Policy Framework and programs and processes to maximize access to federal records held by LAC. 2025 to 2028. LAC
2.3.2. Proactively remove access barriers to GC archival records and have 30% to 50% of the archival GC records held at LAC open and readily available for Canadians to access either in person or online. By 2029. LAC
2.3.3. Integrate public demand into the prioritization process of federal archival records to be proactively opened and maximize access to those records. 2025 to 2029. LAC