The Government of Canada is funding projects to prevent misleading COVID-19 information and to support social cohesion throughout the country
GATINEAU, QC, April 7, 2020 /CNW/ - Now more than ever, Canadians need reliable news and information. The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage, announced tpday that the Government of Canada is investing $3 million in several organizations through the Digital Citizen Initiative's Digital Citizen Contribution Program. This funding will help combat false and misleading COVID-19 information as well as the racism and stigmatization that are often the result.
This support will help fund activities, such as public awareness tools and online workshops, to help Canadians become more resilient and think critically about COVID-19 disinformation. Funded projects will reach Canadians on a national and local scale, online and offline, in minority communities, in both official languages and in Indigenous communities.
The following organizations are receiving immediate funding:
Upstream ($95,000)
Project: Information in the Age of COVID-19
MediaSmarts ($654,134)
Project: Critical Thinking in the Digital Age: Countering Coronavirus Misinformation
Société de l'Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick ($434,725)
Project: Portail de vérification des faits sur le COVID-19 / Fact-Checking portal on COVID-19
COVID-19 : Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec ($330,164)
Project: Dépister la désinfo / COVID-19 : Track the facts
Institute for Canadian Citizenship ($490,880)
Project: Supporting New Canadian Citizens: Dispelling Discriminatory Disinformation Around COVID-19
Digital Public Square ($679,176)
Project: Countering Disinformation Relating to COVID-19
Metro Toronto Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic ($301,904)
Project: Empowering, Engaging and Equipping Canadians to Combat Anti-Asian Racism through Online Resources and Social Media: A Study to Advance Policy Development and Systemic Change
Asian Environmental Association ($64,660)
Project: Combating COVID-19 disinformation in Vancouver's Chinese and Vietnamese language communities
Quotes
"We want to remind Canadians to be careful when searching for online information about COVID-19 and to ensure the reliability of the sources. We must be critical news consumers and make informed decisions. And in the present context, there are very real concerns surrounding discrimination and a climate of hate and fear during this uncertain time. As Canadians stand together to defeat the COVID-19 virus, we must stand together to stop xenophobia, racism and misinformation."
—The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage
"Combatting false and misleading information online is critical, especially during this uncertain and challenging time. I am proud to support this important investment as part of my mandate to strengthen citizen resilience to online disinformation. These initiatives will help make sure that Canadians are better able to get the COVID-19 information they need to keep themselves, their loved ones, and their communities safe."
—The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
Quick Facts
On March 13, 2020, Canadian Heritage's Digital Citizen Initiative launched a targeted call for proposals to support and amplify current efforts to counter COVID-19 disinformation.
Successful applicants will be rolling out their initiatives beginning this spring.
Before the last federal election, the Digital Citizen Initiative contributed $7 million over nine months to more than 20 projects that encouraged critical thinking about online disinformation and involvement in the democratic process.
The initiative supported new projects that raised awareness about news and digital media literacy through various sessions, workshops and learning materials. These projects reached more than 12 million Canadians.
Related Links
Digital Citizen Initiative – Online Disinformation
Société de l'Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick
Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec
Institute for Canadian Citizenship
Chinese Canadian National Council for Social Justice
SOURCE Canadian Heritage
(media only), please contact: Camille Gagné-Raynauld, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, 819-997-7788; Media Relations, Canadian Heritage, 819-994-9101, 1-866-569-6155, [email protected]; Media Relations, Privy Council Office, [email protected], 613-957-5420
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