Rising Threat of Disinformation in Canada’s Municipal Elections

Digital Disinformation Emerges as Major Threat to Canadian Elections

A report from the Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference has identified digital misinformation and disinformation as the “single biggest risk” facing Canadian democracy. Justice Marie-Josée Hogue, who chaired the inquiry, described the issue as an “existential threat,” urging policymakers to address these concerns with urgency.

Unlike traditional election interference such as systems hacking or voter fraud, the proliferation of false information in digital spaces represents a more insidious challenge. The threat extends beyond federal elections to provincial and municipal contests across Canada.

Municipal elections face particular vulnerability due to several factors: historically low information about local candidates, limited resources for election administration, lack of legislative authority, minimal enforcement powers, and significant voter apathy. While misinformation—false information spread without malicious intent—has long existed in elections, disinformation—the deliberate spread of false information—presents a more significant challenge requiring legislative action.

Ontario’s municipal elections highlight these legislative gaps. The province’s Municipal Elections Act currently lacks comprehensive frameworks to regulate digital disinformation. Although penalties exist for candidates and third-party advertisers who violate campaign advertising rules (with fines up to $25,000), significant shortcomings remain in implementation and enforcement.

Greg Essensa, Ontario’s chief electoral officer, recently proposed reforms that would enhance transparency for digital political advertising, expand authority to remove harmful online content, and strengthen enforcement powers and penalties for digital election violations.

Other provinces have already taken more decisive action. Manitoba has implemented fines of up to $20,000 per day for election disinformation, including AI-generated “deepfake” videos that manipulate images of candidates. Their legislation also includes penalties for intentionally spreading false information about voter eligibility and election officials.

Similarly, Elections BC can investigate advertising complaints, impose penalties, and order the removal of unauthorized content. This model, backed by appropriate legislation, positions British Columbia’s municipalities to better combat disinformation.

The challenges in Ontario aren’t solely legislative. A lack of policy coordination between the province and its 444 municipalities creates inconsistent responses to digital threats. Without centralized oversight or enforcement mechanisms, municipal clerks operate with limited authority and resources.

Experts suggest a “whole-of-society approach” to address these vulnerabilities. Potential solutions include revising the Municipal Elections Act to incorporate digital campaign transparency requirements, mandatory labeling of AI-generated content, and real-time response protocols for misinformation.

Establishing centralized oversight would be crucial for effective implementation. This could empower Elections Ontario, integrity commissioners, or a dedicated provincial body to monitor election-related misinformation, issue takedown orders, and impose monetary penalties when necessary. Local election integrity partnerships could complement these efforts by monitoring trends and sharing insights across jurisdictions.

Public education represents another critical component in building resilience against disinformation. Province-wide digital literacy campaigns before elections, along with specialized training for election administrators, candidates, and voters, would standardize resources and awareness.

Several jurisdictions, including Elections Canada and its provincial counterparts, have already implemented proactive strategies using YouTube and other social media platforms to educate voters and debunk false information about voting procedures. Elections Ontario has formed a specialized team to coordinate detection and response to AI-driven misinformation, an effort that will likely expand as content generation tools become increasingly accessible.

While municipal elections might not be considered the epicenter of digital threats to electoral integrity, their unique vulnerabilities require attention through modernized legislative frameworks and policy improvements. As experts note, maintaining a resilient and trustworthy democratic process demands no less than comprehensive, coordinated action at all levels of government.