Chair Bittle and honourable members of the committee, thank you for the invitation to contribute to this important study.
In my experience, democracies do not decline overnight, and civic space rarely closes all at once. It weakens gradually when trust declines, participation narrows and citizens begin to feel their voice no longer matters. I have seen this process up close. Before seeking protection in Canada three years ago, I worked for many years alongside civil society organizations in Afghanistan and in other fragile contexts in which civic space was repressed. These experiences taught me something fundamental: Societies remain resilient when citizens stay engaged, organized and hopeful.
My name is Maiwand Rahyab. I am the founder and CEO of Resilient Societies, a Canadian organization dedicated to protecting civic space in Canada and globally.
Canada remains one of the world's strongest democracies, with a vibrant civil society. According to the CIVICUS Monitor, Canada is among the very small group of countries with open civic space. However, we should not take our democracy and our freedoms for granted. Building civic resilience now is the best way to protect it for the future.
Civic resilience is not built by governments alone. It is built by societies. Resilient civic spaces depend on citizens who participate, volunteer, organize, create, debate and hold institutions accountable. They depend on a strong civic ecosystem. This ecosystem includes community organizations, journalists, educators, artists, universities, philanthropies, volunteers and responsible businesses. When these actors are active and connected, civic resilience grows. When civic life weakens, societies become more vulnerable to polarization, disinformation, declining trust and attempts to silence dissent.
Canada, like many other democracies, faces real pressures. Trust in institutions is under strain. Polarization is increasing. Digital disinformation is reshaping civic discourse. Activists, journalists and diaspora communities face transnational repression and social marginalization. Strengthening civic resilience, therefore, requires harnessing the agency and energy of society itself while ensuring that people can participate freely and meaningfully.
I would like to offer three recommendations for the committee's consideration.
First, Canada should develop a national civic resilience strategy to strengthen civic participation and rebuild social trust. Backed by strong political will and financial resources, such a strategy should centre the agency of the people and bring together national and provincial governments, civil society, academic institutions, cultural leaders and the private sector to support the institutions and networks sustaining civic life.
Second, Canada should build on the inaugural Ottawa Civic Space Summit, which takes place next month in Ottawa. For 2027, Canadian civil society organizations are planning to launch an annual Canada civic action week to celebrate and strengthen civic engagement across the country. Such an initiative will mobilize communities, schools, universities, artists, volunteers, civil society organizations and businesses to engage citizens in civic dialogue, community service and democratic participation. Parliament should encourage and recognize such initiatives at the municipal, provincial and national levels.
Third, Canada should strengthen its role as a civic refuge. Canada is home to one of the world's largest communities of exiled journalists, human rights defenders and pro-democracy leaders, who have been forced to flee as civic space closes globally. While many have found safety here, they often remain vulnerable to transnational repression and face barriers that prevent them from contributing and participating in civic engagement in Canada. By fostering an enabling environment in which civic actors can contribute with safety, voice and agency, Canada can strengthen its own democratic life while demonstrating global leadership in defending human rights and civic space.
Civic resilience ultimately depends on people and participation. It grows when citizens believe their voices matter and when societies invest in institutions and networks that enable participation.
Canada has an opportunity to strengthen civic resilience by empowering its citizens, supporting a vibrant civic ecosystem and standing alongside those defending civic space in Canada and around the world.
Thank you. I look forward to your questions.