A Toronto doctor, Federico Sanchez, has started a petition asking Canada’s Parliament to pass a law that would punish MPs who mislead the public. The petition argues that misinformation from politicians is harmful to democracy and that citizens deserve a way to hold elected leaders accountable when they spread false statements.
The petition has quickly gained attention. By Tuesday, more than 8,700 people had signed, far surpassing the 500 signatures required for certification in the House of Commons. Once certified, Parliament must provide a formal government response. The petition remains open until November 27.
Sanchez, who once ran for office as a Progressive Conservative but says he has no desire to be a career politician, explained his motivation: he wants to stop Canada from following the same path as the United States, where political lies often spread unchecked.
“We don’t have as bad a problem with misinformation coming from elected officials,” Sanchez said, “but we are headed in that direction, if you ask me.”
He believes that if voters are constantly misled, trust in democracy will weaken.
The petition points to an example from Wales, where lawmakers are considering a law to disqualify politicians who deliberately mislead the public.
Here’s how the Welsh model would work:
If a court finds a politician guilty of making a false or misleading statement, the court could issue a “correction notice.”
The politician would have seven days to make a public correction.
If the politician refuses, the court could ban them from holding office for a period of time.
Any registered voter could request a correction order, though the court could dismiss weak or frivolous complaints.
This system avoids debates about intent. Politicians wouldn’t be punished for simple mistakes—they’d only need to admit the error and correct it. If they refused, only then would penalties apply.
Not everyone agrees this idea is practical. Professor Alex Marland from Acadia University says politics is messy, and deciding what is true or false isn’t always simple.
“Sometimes politicians hide information or avoid answering fully for what they see as the greater good,” Marland explained. “We can’t live in a world of complete purity.”
He believes voters, not judges, should be the ones to decide whether a politician deserves to stay in office.
Marland also raised a different concern: social media platforms. He argued that while attention is focused on politicians, platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) are often the ones spreading misinformation far and wide.
“Why do we give a free pass to online platforms?” Marland asked. “If they allow lies and deceit to spread, shouldn’t we also hold them responsible?”
The petition comes at a time when trust in politicians is low worldwide. Citizens in many countries feel their leaders often twist facts or fail to admit when they are wrong. Supporters of the petition say a law would protect democracy by forcing politicians to be honest, while critics worry it could be hard to enforce and may even limit free speech.
Still, the overwhelming support shows Canadians are deeply concerned about truth in politics. Whether or not Parliament acts on this petition, the conversation about honesty, accountability, and democracy in Canada is far from over.
UAE and Yemen attorney generals met in Abu Dhabi to strengthen legal ties, enhance public prosecutio
UAE and African Union held first political talks in Abu Dhabi, focusing on peace, investment, health
Phil Salt smashed 141* as England posted 304/2, a T20 record, to crush South Africa by 146 runs at O
Demon Slayer Infinity Castle delivers breathtaking fights and visuals, but its long runtime and too
