Peter Julian

MP Peter Julian was elected in 2004 as a New Democratic Party (NDP) Member of Parliament for the riding of New Westminster-Burnaby in British Columbia, Canada. Over his 20 years in Parliament, he has held significant roles within the NDP, including National Caucus Chair, Official Opposition House Leader, and Shadow Finance Minister. He currently serves as the House Leader of the NDP, Health Critic, and Deputy Critic for Finance.

In 2022, during the “Freedom Convoy” protests—a movement marked by anti-vaccine and anti-government sentiments, often supported by far-right influencers and extremist groups—Ottawa, Canada’s capital, was locked down. Many Canadians were appalled by the hateful displays, including genocidal symbols such as Nazi swastikas and Confederate flags, at the heart of Canadian democracy. In response, MP Julian tabled Private Member’s Bill C-229, aimed at preventing the sale and public display of symbols that promote hatred and violence against identifiable groups. This initiative sought to protect individuals historically targeted by violence and oppression.

Inspired by Democratic Senator Ed Markey’s S.1896—the Algorithmic Justice and Online Platform Transparency Act—MP Julian also led the drafting of a groundbreaking Canadian bill, C-292, titled the Online Algorithm Transparency Act. This legislation received widespread support from national and international organizations, including Open Media and the Center for Combating Digital Hate.