In Ottawa, Secretary General Thomas E. Garrett held meetings at Global Affairs Canada (GAC) on challenges and opportunities for democracy. He spoke with Assistant Deputy Minister for International Security and Political Affairs Mark Gwozdecky on issues of digital democracy and discussed inclusion and political participation with Director General Shelley Whiting of the Office of Human Rights, Freedom and Inclusion, joined by her colleagues Director Giuliana Natale and Deputy Director Jean-Francois Lacasse. Other meetings at GAC were held with the Democracy Policy Team and the Centre for International Digital Policy.

A roundtable with Canadian civil society on media freedoms and enabling civic space took place during the Ottawa visit as did a meeting in the Canadian Parliament with MPs Michael Levitt and Anita Vandenbeld of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.