Thread by @Norlaine

@JustinTrudeau @cafreeland @CBCPolitics @ElectionsCan_E It has become distressingly obvious that a great many Canadians are quite ignorant of how our Westminster parliamentary democracy works. The opposition is taking full advantage of this ignorance. 1/10

Our media, much of which is a monopoly owned by a foreign corporation with ties to the American Republican Party, does very little to set the record straight when incorrect claims are made by opposition MPs. This should not be the case. 2/10

Misinformation & disinformation put our democratic systems at risk. The public cannot make informed voting decisions if they have been led to believe things which are not accurate. Our 4th estate should be challenging incorrect/misleading statements, but they often do not. 3/10

It is the joint responsibility of the Government of Canada, Elections Canada, and our national broadcaster (CBC) to educate the public on the structures and processes which make up our governance systems. 4/10

Specific areas where there seems to be great misunderstandings include: levels of government and jurisdictional responsibilities; how the judiciary and policing and the CBC are separate entities from the government; how the NCC operates to maintain public properties; 5/ 10

The rights we have in Canada under the Charter and how those apply (e.g. we do not have a 2nd amendment - a common misconception, neither do we have a 1st or 5th, or any of the other amendments Canadians seem to have absorbed from US TV) and how they are not absolute; 6/10

The proper names for positions in our system (e.g. we do not have District Attorneys, we have Crown Prosecutors); the new processes for appointing judges and senators... This is not an exhaustive list of things many Canadians do not seem to know, but it's a start. 7/10

I would suggest a multi-pronged approach, utilizing print, television, radio, and social media ads. Short, easily digestible segments, perhaps in an animated "explainer" format for media where that would work.
8/10

I understand that the opposition would strenuously oppose this, simply because it would make their attempts to encourage the spread of misinformation less effective. We have strict laws about truth in advertising for products and services, but not for politics. 9/10

An educated public is far less susceptible to misinformation, and, since we don't have any other means of countering it, it is essential that they be educated. This would be a very worthwhile investment in the future of our democracy. 10/10

Let's add explaining how seats in Parliament are allocated to the list. I just explained how seats relate to population to several people who are angry that SK has fewer seats than ON. Government of Canada, PLEASE set up some remedial civics education for Canadians! #cdnpoli