The committee studied civic resilience and democratic engagement, hearing from John Beebe, Director of the Democratic Engagement Exchange; Maiwand Rahyab, Founder and CEO of Resilient Societies; and Peter MacLeod, Principal of MASS LBP.
John Beebe argued that Canada needs a "public health system for its democracy," investing in trusted community organizations as a frontline against disinformation and polarization. He noted that declining participation, especially among youth, and social isolation make people vulnerable to manipulation. Beebe specifically recommended a $20-million annual investment in a non-partisan Canadian democracy fund to support local groups that create safe spaces for civic conversation, emphasizing that this would build on existing strengths like easy voting and no gerrymandering.
Maiwand Rahyab stressed that civic resilience is built by society, not government alone, and that Canada should not take its open civic space for granted. He recommended developing a national civic resilience strategy, supporting a proposed annual Canada civic action week, and strengthening Canada's role as a civic refuge for exiled activists and journalists. Rahyab noted that transnational repression and disinformation directly weaken civic engagement by targeting those who could enrich Canada's democratic ecosystem.
Peter MacLeod argued that democracies are struggling because they have stopped evolving and treat the public as a risk to manage rather than a critical resource. He called for a "democracy's second act" that builds democratic fitness through meaningful participation, such as citizens' assemblies, and criticized the lack of investment in the space between elections. MacLeod disagreed with an overemphasis on trust, arguing that capability is the real driver, and specifically recommended an independent digital regulator and a civil defence corps for Canada.
During questions, Beebe agreed that social media is "anti-social" and that people disengage when politics feels toxic, advocating for meeting people where they already gather, such as in cooking classes or rec leagues. Rahyab emphasized that hope comes from agency and community organizations delivering results, not just government action. MacLeod noted that volunteerism has shifted to intense, episodic efforts like the Syrian refugee sponsorship program, and that political parties are partly culpable for replacing engagement with top-down management.
In response to a question about declining trust in institutions like the justice system, Beebe said building confidence requires a virtuous cycle of knowledgeable citizens having conversations in their communities. On the "freedom convoy," Beebe said it demonstrated people coming together around shared concerns, which is how democracy should work, regardless of one's views on the issue. MacLeod called the inability to share news links on Facebook a "scandal" showing Canada's vulnerability to big tech, while Rahyab focused on empowering communities through media literacy to resist disinformation.
On engaging young people, Beebe said they are interested in power, not politics, and that framing voting as a form of collective power resonates. MacLeod argued that high schools teach the wrong lessons about democracy by making most students passive spectators. Beebe also recommended that post-secondary institutions do more to demystify voting and create safe spaces for difficult conversations, citing a 55% increase in on-campus voting turnout at his university after targeted efforts.
The meeting included no procedural debate, motions, or votes.
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