Group Chat: Making Sense of Canada’s Democracy With a Few Friends

In this episode of Group Chat, we bring together civil society and academic perspectives to consider how advances in AI and declining transparency from social media platforms are shaping Canada's democratic culture. How can citizens be equipped to navigate online spaces and engage with accurate and trustworthy political information online? How can our government respond to this moment of rapid change with effective and common-sense methods to safeguard our country’s security? Host Sabreena Delhon is joined by Beatrice Wayne (Samara Centre for Democracy), Anatoliy Gruzd (Social Media Lab, Toronto Metropolitan University), and Ana Brandusescu (McGill University) for this panel discussion recorded live at the Samara Centre for Democracy as part of Toronto Tech Week.ResourcesDeath on the Order Paper - Canadian Bar Association Government of Canada launches AI Strategy Task Force and public engagement on the development of the next AI strategyTwo-thirds of Canadians have experimented with generative AI, but most don’t understand its impacts  - Toronto Metropolitan University’s Social Media LabOpen Letter to the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation From Civil Society Organizations and Individuals Opposing “National Sprint” Consultation on AI Strategy - People’s Consultation on AI The Samara Centre for Democracy’s Verified Project

Parental anxiety, even desperation about keeping kids safe online is driving countries to adopt legislation that limits access to online spaces based on age. This type of legislation is called age-gating and countries like the United States, France and Brazil are all exploring some form of it. Here in Canada, the federal government and a number of provinces are seriously considering age-gating legislation as well. In this episode, host Sabreena Delhon is joined by fellow team members at the Samara Centre, Beatrice Wayne (Director of Research and Policy) and Alex MacIsaac (Research Manager) to discuss what age-gating actually looks like in practice. Is age-gating enough? Can we do better?Group Chat is produced by the Samara Centre for Democracy, Canada’s leading non-partisan charity dedicated to strengthening and protecting our democracy. Visit samaracentre.ca to explore more of our shows and support this work with a donation. Visit our Episode Page for Resources. 

In this period of global democratic backsliding we’re seeing political pressures in the United States reverberate in Canada. Top American scholars are moving here while Canadian researchers are facing growing scrutiny over what they study. What does this all mean for the health of our democracy?In this episode we partnered with the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences on Re-imagining Academic Freedom and Advocacy, to explore these issues in depth with Debra Thompson (McGill University), Eve Haque (York University), and our own Beatrice Wayne (Samara Centre for Democracy).Group Chat is produced by the Samara Centre for Democracy, Canada’s leading non-partisan charity dedicated to strengthening and protecting our democracy. Visit samaracentre.ca to explore more of our shows and support this work with a donation. Special thanks to the Flanagan Foundation and the Rideau Hall Foundation for their support. 

Go behind the scenes of the Group Chat podcast with a BONUS episode featuring host Sabreena Delhon in conversation with Executive Producer Debbie Pacheco. This episode launches our Group Chat Listening Party guide - think book club but a podcast.Special thanks to the McConnell Foundation.Host a Group Chat Listening Party 

With technology bridging communities across borders, global and local politics are connected more than ever. We explore how diasporic politics shape local democracy, the threat of foreign interference, and the power of belonging in civic life with Anita Li, The Green Line, and Jaskaran Sandhu, Baaz News.Group Chat is funded by the Rideau Hall Foundation and the Flanagan Foundation.If you like this podcast, help us keep it going. Your donation supports the show along with the Samara Centre for Democracy’s mission to realize a vibrant culture of civic engagement across Canada. Learn more at samaracentre.ca.

Taiwan’s former Digital Minister Audrey Tang and economist Glen Weyl share an infectious techno optimism. In a surprisingly spiritual conversation, they tell us why they want to invite more, not less, technology into the democratic process. We also talk to Bianca Wylie from Digital Public about the limitations of tech as a tool of salvation.Group Chat is funded by the Rideau Hall Foundation and the Flanagan Foundation.If you like this podcast, help us keep it going. Your donation supports the show along with the Samara Centre for Democracy’s mission to realize a vibrant culture of civic engagement across Canada. Learn more at samaracentre.ca.  

We often hear that democracy is in decline—but there are also spaces of innovation. In this episode, recorded live in Montreal at the Institute for Research on Public Policy, we explore practices like citizens’ assemblies that go beyond voting, with Malorie Flon (L'Institut du Nouveau Monde), Bianca Wylie (Digital Public), and Sarah Yaffe (MASS LBP).Group Chat is funded by the Rideau Hall Foundation and the Flanagan Foundation.If you like this podcast, help us keep it going. Your donation supports the show along with the Samara Centre for Democracy’s mission to realize a vibrant culture of civic engagement across Canada. Learn more at samaracentre.ca.  

Former Green Party leader, Annamie Paul, lets us in on the covert, cross-partisan group chat that helped her survive politics. It just showed up on her phone, becoming a pillar throughout her rocky tenure - and it inspired this new podcast.Group Chat is funded by the Rideau Hall Foundation and the Flanagan Foundation.If you like this podcast, help us keep it going. Your donation supports the show along with the Samara Centre for Democracy’s mission to realize a vibrant culture of civic engagement across Canada. Learn more at samaracentre.ca.