The Trudeau government announced its “expert advisory group on online safety” on Wednesday, and it includes a known spreader of misinformation.
Last month during Ottawa’s Freedom Convoy Bernie Farber made headlines after sharing a picture on social media of an anti-Semitic flyer that was allegedly found “in plain site.”
Journalist Jonathan Kay was quick to investigate and proved the claim to be false in a tweet where Kay found an identical photo posted by someone in Miami a month prior.
Farber’s original Tweet has since been deleted but a screenshot has been preserved by Jonathan Kay. You can also view it on archive.org using their way back machine. The comment thread is found here
Human rights, anti-racism, pluralism, and inter-ethnic/faith/race relations have reportedly been the focus of Farber’s career. He’s also the Chair of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network (CAN), an organization that studies hate groups and hate crimes in the country.
CAN has worked with foreign organizations such as the Southern Poverty Law Center in the US.
They call themselves a so-called “independent and non-profit” organization. also received Canadian government funding in 2020 as part of a $15 Million grant program called “Building a More Inclusive Canada.”
NDP Charlie Angus jumped on board spreading the hoax and misinformation like a virus. To view it in all it’s glory you can see it here
Legacy media CTV’s Angie Seth fell for the hoax and misinformation spread by Farberand quickly helped spread it on social media “This is both disgusting and horrifying” she is quoted in a retweet.
The now deleted tweet but still available on archive.org with the way back machine.
Liberal heritage minister Pablo Rodriguez unveiled the Trudeau government’s new online safety panel at a press conference on Wednesday.
When asked whether the government’s online hate legislation will infringe on free speech, Rodriguez said the bill will actually help free speech.
Censorship is good for free speech says Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez
Despite saying he fully supports protecting freedom of expression, Farber himself claimed there is an inclination to “lean so favourably towards ensuring the rights of white supremacists” instead of focusing on the rights of victims.
“We don’t have much more time left before there’s going to be another horrible, horrible incident. Canadians are going to throw up their hands in despair and say, ‘Why don’t we have any laws to protect us?’” Farber said.
“Canadians want harms legislation. Why haven’t we got it yet?”
