The assassination of U.S. political commentator Charlie Kirk sparked widespread discussion and elicited polarized reactions worldwide, raising questions about the nature of the information Canadians were exposed to and how such information affected public understanding and social cohesion.

Charlie Kirk’s assassination, an act of political violence, intensified national debate about polarization and free speech. We examine public attitudes towards political violence, assessing whether the incident and ensuing debates are perceived by Canadians as a shared concern or a uniquely American issue.