The Independent Press Gallery of Canada condemns Women and Gender Equality Canada’s decision to abandon X after departmental officials cited the “mental strain” caused by public criticism of the department’s social media accounts.
Canadians deserve more access to government information, not less. Government departments exist to serve the public, and the discomfort of bureaucrats cannot take precedence over transparency, accountability, and Canadians’ right to question government spending and public policy.
X remains one of the most important platforms for journalists to gather news, monitor government announcements, question public officials, and engage directly with Canadians. When government departments abandon that public square, they make themselves less accessible to both journalists and the public.
This decision is particularly troubling after the federal government’s Online News Act drove Canadian news from Meta’s Facebook and Instagram platforms, significantly reducing Canadians’ access to news. Rather than expanding access to public information, the federal government continues to shrink the spaces where Canadians can engage with their government and the journalists who hold it to account.
In a free society, Canadians have every right to question government decisions, spending, and policy. Genuine threats should be investigated by police, but criticism, disagreement, and robust public debate are essential features of a healthy democracy.
Sheila Gunn Reid
President, Independent Press Gallery of Canada
info@independentpressgallery.ca