A Toronto physician is pushing Ottawa to crack down on dishonest politicians through a parliamentary petition that has already drawn thousands of signatures.
Federico Sanchez launched the e-petition calling on Parliament to introduce legislation that would hold members of Parliament accountable for spreading false or misleading information. He argues misinformation is a growing threat to democracy and says Canada risks heading down the same path as the United States, where unchecked falsehoods have eroded public trust.
The petition, which closes Nov. 27, had more than 8,700 signatures as of Tuesday — far surpassing the 500 needed to trigger an official government response. Sanchez, who once ran unsuccessfully as a Progressive Conservative candidate in Ontario, says he isn’t interested in becoming a politician himself, but wants to see consequences for MPs who mislead Canadians.
He points to Wales, where the government is pursuing legislation that could disqualify politicians from public office if they’re found guilty of deliberate deception. A proposed Welsh model would allow courts to issue “correction notices” requiring politicians to publicly amend false statements, and even bar them from holding office if they refuse.
Supporters of Sanchez’s petition argue a similar framework in Canada could restore faith in federal politics. Critics, however, say the plan would be difficult to implement. Acadia University professor Alex Marland cautioned that politics is “messy,” with truth and falsehood often blurred in debates. He said voters, not judges, should ultimately decide a politician’s fate.
Marland suggested greater focus should instead be placed on regulating social media platforms that spread misinformation. “If they’re the ones allowing deceit and lies to propagate, why is the focus not on them?” he asked.