The impact of Russian disinformation on Canada was discussed during a House committee on April 5, with academics weighing in on the nature and scope of the phenomena. They didn’t all agree on its importance, but cautioned that government censorship could actually backfire by eroding trust in institutions. “In terms of disinformation, I’m not one who believes that Russian disinformation, or Chinese, or anyone’s disinformation campaigns really have much of an effect at all. I think that’s highly overblown and exaggerated,” said James Fergusson, deputy director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at the University of Manitoba. Fergusson and other professors were testifying before the Standing Committee on Public Safety in the context of its assessment of Canada’s security posture in relation to Russia. Fergusson opened his remarks by telling the committee the government should not overreact or panic regarding Canada’s vulnerabilities vis-à-vis Russia. “Certainly the war has …