Ottawa looking for ways to mend tears in Canada’s social fabric, document shows [Video]

Senior federal officials have been looking quietly for ways to bring together Canadians who don’t see eye to eye on the economy, immigration and social issues.

With a general election looming, officials prepared to meet last November to brainstorm solutions to the problem of social fragmentation, according to an internal presentation drafted by the Department of Canadian Heritage.

The presentation called on session participants to come up with ideas to make Canadian society more cohesive by reversing the trend toward polarization, building trust in government agencies and fighting the swelling tide of misinformation and disinformation.

The document offered various questions for discussion, including one asking how session participants could “position our advice on strengthening social cohesion in a way that will resonate for the next government, whatever its complexion.”

The Canadian Press used the Access to Information Act to obtain the Nov. 19 Canadian Heritage presentation.

Citing three previous meetings …