Calgary Councillor Proposes External Review to Combat Impact of Misinformation on City Decisions
Calgary City Councillor Courtney Walcott has announced his intention to introduce a motion calling for an external review of how misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation (MDM) have impacted city operations and council decisions. This move comes amid growing concern about the erosion of public trust and the damaging effect of false information on the city’s reputation. While emphasizing he isn’t seeking real-time fact-checking, Walcott believes a retrospective analysis is crucial to understand the role of MDM in shaping public discourse and influencing policy choices. He highlighted two specific examples from 2024: the city council’s decision on upzoning and the unsuccessful redevelopment proposal for Glenmore Landing, both of which were subject to the widespread dissemination of inaccurate information both online and offline.
The proposed review seeks to dissect the prevalence of MDM, categorize its various forms, and analyze its impact on public perception and ultimately, city council decisions. Walcott clarified the distinctions between the three categories: misinformation as the unintentional spread of false information, disinformation as the deliberate dissemination of falsehoods, and malinformation as the malicious spread of accurate but harmful information. He expressed concern that even after administrative corrections, some city councillors continued to cite false information presented during council meetings, underscoring the pervasive nature of the problem and the urgent need for intervention.
Walcott introduced the concept of the external review during a meeting of the council’s audit committee, which was convened to discuss the detrimental effects of declining public trust on the city’s corporate reputation. This proposal was met with positive reception, with City of Calgary Chief Administrative Officer, David Duckworth, expressing interest in exploring the idea further with City Auditor Liz Ormsby. The seriousness with which the city is taking this issue is further underscored by ongoing internal efforts to tackle MDM.
Chris Arthurs, General Manager of People, Innovation and Collaboration Services, reported that her team has been actively engaged in training city staff – including communications teams, social media managers, and web-based teams – on how to identify and address MDM. This training is designed to equip city employees with the necessary skills to navigate the complexities of online discourse and ensure accurate and responsible communication with both city council and the public. The focus on training highlights the city’s commitment to proactive measures in combating the spread of misinformation.
Walcott’s firm commitment to introducing the motion in March, irrespective of internal discussions, underscores the urgency he attaches to addressing the issue of MDM. He argues that the truth should be central to policy decisions and that the current pervasiveness of misinformation threatens to undermine democratic processes and ultimately harm citizens. He plans to bring his motion to a full council meeting in March, seeking the support of his colleagues to initiate the external review.
This proposed review represents a significant step towards understanding and mitigating the impact of misinformation on municipal governance. By examining past instances of MDM influence, the review aims to provide insights into how the city can strengthen its communications strategies, improve public engagement, and ultimately, ensure its decisions are based on accurate information. This initiative reflects a growing recognition across jurisdictions of the need to actively combat the spread of misinformation and its detrimental impact on public trust and democratic processes. The outcome of the March council meeting will determine whether Calgary embarks on this comprehensive examination of MDM’s influence on local governance. If approved, the review could serve as a valuable case study for other municipalities grappling with similar challenges.