When fourth-year Political Science and Economics student Kennedy Bond began searching for a way to apply her academic knowledge outside the classroom, she never expected it would lead to a province-wide policy project with real-world impact.
After reaching out to her professors last summer, Kennedy was nominated by her Political Science professors to represent Nipissing in the Undergraduate Partnered Research Programme (UPRP), a national initiative led by Dr. Holly Ann Garnett, a Nipissing alumnus and current professor at the Royal Military College of Canada. The program connects students with external organizations to tackle pressing policy issues, and Kennedy was paired with Elections Ontario to explore strategies for preventing and addressing misinformation and disinformation in the digital age.
"The project started with a broad focus," said Kennedy, "but after consulting with Elections Ontario, I narrowed in on how misinformation spreads online and how policy can address that. I conducted a cross-jurisdictional analysis of all 10 provincial Elections Acts and the federal Canada Elections Act to identify gaps and opportunities for stronger legislative responses."
Her final report includes a comparative chart outlining how each jurisdiction defines and handles election-related misinformation, and categorizes existing strategies as prevention, short-term remediation, or long-term remediation. One of Kennedy's most significant recommendations encourages the province to introduce proactive, long-term policy solutions that reflect the modern digital landscape.
"Right now, Ontario doesn't have any legislation that directly tackles misinformation about the electoral process, and that's a big gap," she explained. "By introducing comprehensive policies that extend beyond election periods and address the realities of digital communication, Ontario could become a leader in protecting electoral integrity."
The experience has been both confidence-building and career-shaping for Kennedy, who will begin a Master's degree in Public Policy, at Simon Fraser University this fall.
"I feel proud to have been able to offer ideas that might make a difference. The fact that my work could actually inform real decisions is incredibly rewarding," she said. "This program helped me find confidence in my skills and showed me that there's space for students to contribute meaningfully to the field."
Dr. Koivukoski praised Kennedy's drive and the impact of her work. "Kennedy's research goes beyond the short-term concerns about misinformation," he said. "She is helping to build long-term trust in our electoral process and civic literacy. Her professors are very proud and excited to see what she'll do next."
Kennedy's contributions are already making waves with Elections Ontario; as she moves into the next chapter of her academic journey, she brings with her not only policy insight, but the kind of hands-on experience that brings classroom learning to life.
