Reports

This report examines how the Government of Canada has incorporated behavioural science and legislative mechanisms to shape public attitudes, restrict expression, and manage dissent. Through the Impact and Innovation Unit (IIU) in the Privy Council Office (PCO), federal officials have implemented strategies drawn from so-called nudge theory to influence citizen behaviour under the guise of “evidence-based policy.” These methods expanded dramatically during the era of Covid lockdowns and vaccine passports, shifting from communication improvement to deliberate psychological conditioning aimed at securing compliance. The Justice Centre urges thorough scrutiny of such behavioural programs to preserve transparent, representative governance in Canada.