Recognizing that a well-informed, engaged electorate is fundamental to the health and well-being of our democracy, Parliamentary Secretary Andy Fillmore, on behalf of the Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of Democratic Institutions, today met with regional leaders from media, academia and public interest groups to hear their ideas for the creation of an independent commission or commissioner to organize federal political party leaders’ debates in advance of the 2019 election.
Parliamentary Secretary Andy Fillmore, on behalf of the Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of Democratic Institutions, will be in Halifax on January 15, 2018, as part of the Government of Canada’s leaders’ debates consultations.
Recognizing that a well-informed, engaged electorate is fundamental to the health and well-being of our democracy, the Government of Canada is asking for feedback and recommendations from Canadians about the creation of an independent commission or commissioner to organize federal political party leaders’ debates in advance of the 2019 election.
Building on her efforts to engage with provincial and territorial counterparts to strengthen our democratic institutions, today the Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of Democratic Institutions, met with Minister Kathleen Weil, Minister Responsible for Access to Information and the Reform of Democratic Institutions (Quebec), Minister Yasir Naqvi, Attorney General (Ontario), Minister Richard Brown, Government House Leader (Prince Edward Island) and Minister Louis Sebert, Minister of Justice (Northwest Territories).
A lot has changed in the world of technology and digital platforms. As we look forward to 2019, it’s important to consider what we can do to reinforce and protect our strong democratic institutions.
In today’s digital world, we can use those tools to unite Canadians in a democratic debate. But in the wrong hands, they can also be used to divide us – and harm our democracy. The Government of Canada takes this seriously and is determined to do all we can to prevent that from happening.
Media representatives are advised that the Minister of Democratic Institutions, the Honourable Karina Gould, and the Chief of the Communications Security Establishment, Ms. Greta Bossenmaier, will be holding a news conference to discuss an assessment of cyber threats to Canada’s democratic process.
