Canada and Civic Space: Foundations, Gaps and the Challenge of Coherent Action

As civic space continues to narrow globally, Canada has developed a significant, though uneven, record of support for civil society, human rights defenders, media freedom and inclusive governance through its international assistance and multilateral engagement.

This new policy paper examines Canada’s evolving approach to civic space over the past decade, including key policies, funding mechanisms and international leadership roles. Drawing on a desk review of government policies, multilateral frameworks and independent research, the paper assesses both strengths and gaps in Canada’s current approach and identifies priorities for more coherent and effective action moving forward.

The paper explores Canada’s engagement across areas including:

• support for human rights defenders and independent media
• digital rights and countering disinformation
• civil society participation and funding reform
• multilateral leadership on civic space