Rising foreign interference, disinformation, and infrastructure vulnerabilities all threaten Canada’s sovereignty. At the same time, Canada has struggled to respond. Critical bills—designed to strengthen election security, protect children online, update our privacy laws, and hold digital platforms accountable—failed to pass before Parliament was prorogued. At a moment of rising global risk, Canada remains exposed. Join us for a critical conversation about how Canada’s new government has a chance to reset and define a new agenda.
This event was sponsored by the Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy, the Atkinson Foundation, and the Ronald S Roadburg foundation.
Watch the full event recording here: https://tinyurl.com/5bvs4fs8
Event Program:
Host: Peter MacLeod, Principal, MASS LBP
5:00 – 5:10 PM Opening Remarks
5:10 - 5-20 PM How Healthy is Canada’s Information Ecosystem?
Disinformation, polarization and declining trust in the media are weakening Canada’s democratic resilience and posing new risks for our sovereignty. Aengus Bridgman will present new findings from the Media Ecosystem Observatory that identify the current vulnerabilities and pressures facing Canadians, especially following Canada’s recent election.
Aengus Bridgman, Director, Media Ecosystem Observatory
5:20 - 5:45 What’s Next for Public Media?
In a fragmented information ecosystem, public media remains vital to democratic health. With ongoing debates about the future of CBC/Radio-Canada, a new administration, and mounting external pressures, now is a timely opportunity to rethink the role of public media in advancing democratic resilience, digital and communications sovereignty, and public safety.
Mike Ananny, Associate Professor of Communication and Journalism, USC Annenberg
Jessica Johnson, Senior Fellow, Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy and Former Editor-in-Chief, The Walrus
Moderator: Anja Karadeglija, Reporter-Editor, Ottawa Bureau, The Canadian Press
5:50-6:15 PM What’s Next for Digital Sovereignty?
Canada’s digital sovereignty is increasingly shaped by cybersecurity threats—from state-sponsored interference to attacks on critical infrastructure. As geopolitical tensions rise and platforms evade accountability, how can Canada protect its digital borders and reinforce trust in its systems.
Rafal Rohozinski, Principal, The SecDev Group
Stephanie Carvin, Associate Professor, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University
Moderator: Vass Bednar, Executive Director, Master of Public Policy in Digital Society, McMaster University
6:20 - 6:45 PM What’s Next for Digital Governance?
With a new ministerial mandate and growing political momentum, Canada has an opportunity to chart a new course. This closing panel looks ahead to the next phase of digital policy – from AI governance to platform accountability – to think carefully and collectively about building a uniquely Canadian governance model resilient to emerging vulnerabilities.
Taylor Owen, Director, Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy
Elissa Strome, Executive Director of the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy at CIFAR
Moderator: Raisa Patel, Federal Politics Reporter, Toronto Star
6:50- 7:00 PM Concluding remarks
Taylor Owen, Director, Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy
7:00 Reception
