Governance & Democracy
Naila Moloo – 2023 Emerging Leader Award Recipient
Filled with a burning desire to create positive change for her community, Caitlin Tolley has used her voice at home and on the global stage as an advocate for Indigenous people. On April 12, the Public Policy Forum will recognize her work with the Emerging Leader Award at its Annual Testimonial Dinner & Awards in Toronto.
The Local News Project
Underpinning democracy: Rebuilding local news and social cohesion
Let’s build a better Canada together. Whether you’re looking to support our mission by becoming a member, partnering with us on a project or sponsoring an event, your engagement helps drive informed, inclusive policy across the country.
Recommendations to Strengthen Canada’s Response to the Spread of Disinformation Online
In our second year, we again invited Canadians to volunteer to advise the Commission on Democratic Expression as well as the federal government on the regulation of digital platforms. In the midst of a pandemic, more than 600 Canadians volunteered to serve and 42 were randomly selected to represent the provinces and territories.
Past Event
Public Trust and Multisectoral Collaboration During the Pandemic
PPF’s annual Fall Dinner will showcase two case studies, a keynote speaker, and a panel that will explore the topic of collaboration between different levels of government and other sectors during a global crisis.
Frontiers and Borders:
The Internet and the Amplification of Illiberalism
Recommendations to Strengthen Canada’s Response to New Digital Technology and Reduce the Harm Caused by their Misuse
How can we create a vibrant digital public sphere that doesn’t by design expose people to an ocean of baser instincts — much less to hatred and abuse? The Citizens’ Assembly on Democratic Expression explores the question of online harms, as Canadians spend more and more time on the Internet, particularly in the COVID-19 pandemic. These 42 members, randomly selected from a pool of volunteers, who we hope represent the widest possible range of voices and perspectives, come together to provide 33 recommendations that balance the harms of misuse of technology with freedom of speech.
Harms Reduction: A Six-Step Program to Protect Democratic Expression Online
The health of our democracy ultimately depends on citizens having the capacity, willingness and opportunity to participate in our public life. Following nine months of study and deliberations, the Canadian Commission on Democratic Expression has settled on a six-part, made-in-Canada plan to address hate speech and other online harms, while balancing freedom of speech.
Processes, People and Public Accountability
Researchers and reporters documented three forms of harmful online communication during Canada’s 2019 federal election campaign: abuse of individuals, intolerance and hate toward marginalized groups in public online spaces, and an increase in support for hate in private online spaces. In this report, authors Heidi Tworek and Chris Tenove propose a framework to distinguish key dimensions of harmful online communication in Canada, and offer several principles to guide policy development in Canada.