In theory, public consultation is how ordinary people shape laws. In practice, it often feels like shouting into a void. Draft policies are posted online, town halls are held, surveys are sent — but how often does citizen feedback actually change the outcome?
Why It Matters in Digital Policy
Internet prices: Consultation can determine if affordability becomes a real priority or a checkbox.
Online safety laws: Citizens may want stronger protections — or worry about censorship.
Privacy rights: Input from the public should guide how far data collection can go.
Tech standards: Everyday voices are crucial when deciding what “digital access” really means.
Canadian Context
Bill C-11 (Online Streaming Act): Many felt consultations were rushed, with citizen voices drowned out by corporate lobbyists.
Privacy reform debates: Public consultations have been criticized for being too technical for most Canadians to navigate.
Municipal level: Some cities have experimented with participatory budgeting and digital consultations with mixed results.
Indigenous engagement: Federal and provincial processes are increasingly expected to include Indigenous perspectives, though quality varies.
The Challenges
Accessibility: Consultations are often buried in legal jargon or hidden on government websites.
Representation gaps: Responses tend to come from organizations, not individuals.
Policy theatre: Feedback is collected but rarely shapes the final bill in visible ways.
Trust erosion: When people feel ignored, they disengage from the process entirely.
The Opportunities
Simplify the process: Plain-language consultations would widen participation.
Digital engagement tools: Online platforms can make it easier for more people to contribute.
Transparency: Governments could publish not just submissions, but how they influenced the final policy.
Empowered citizens: When feedback clearly impacts law, trust and engagement grow.
The Bigger Picture
If public consultation is to mean more than a box ticked, it must be transparent, accessible, and impactful. Otherwise, Canadians risk being spectators in a policy process that claims to include them.
The Question
Have you ever participated in a public consultation — and did you feel your input actually mattered in the law that was passed?
Public Consultation and Lawmaking
The Idea vs. The Reality
In theory, public consultation is how ordinary people shape laws. In practice, it often feels like shouting into a void. Draft policies are posted online, town halls are held, surveys are sent — but how often does citizen feedback actually change the outcome?
Why It Matters in Digital Policy
Canadian Context
The Challenges
The Opportunities
The Bigger Picture
If public consultation is to mean more than a box ticked, it must be transparent, accessible, and impactful. Otherwise, Canadians risk being spectators in a policy process that claims to include them.
The Question
Have you ever participated in a public consultation — and did you feel your input actually mattered in the law that was passed?