Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre is criticizing media outlet Global News that published an article that accuses him and some of his colleagues of supporting the “far-right,” saying “No wonder trust in the media is at an all-time low.”
“One of Global News’ so-called journalists decided to smear me & thousands of other Canadians because we criticized the federal government’s unscientific & discriminatory vaccine mandates,” Poilievre tweeted on July 7.
Poilievre says in the July 7 statement he can’t be held accountable for the “words and deeds” of everyone he meets as well as those he hasn’t even met.
No wonder trust in the media is at an all-time low.
One of Global News' so-called journalists decided to smear me & thousands of other Canadians because we criticized the federal government's unscientific & discriminatory vaccine mandates.
My campaign's response to this attack. pic.twitter.com/P1W4PTcswR
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) July 7, 2022
Poilievre was responding to Global News’ July 7 article by Rachel Gilmore “How close is too close to the far-right? Why some experts are worried about Canada’s MPs.”
The article criticizes Pierre Poilievre and other Conservative MPs’ support for veteran James Topp, who walked across Canada to protest vaccine mandates, as well as Pierre’s support for the Freedom Convoy.
“Instead of just covering the news, unprofessional journalists like you try to set disingenuous traps to attack your opponents,” Poilievre said in a statement responding to the piece.
The article insinuates that because some of the supporters of Topp and the Freedom Convoy have “far-right views,” MPs who support Topp and the freedom movement could be “legitimizing extreme ideas.” The article asks Pierre to answer the following questions that was sent to his campaign:
- Does Mr. Poilievre feel he has a responsibility to distance himself from movements that call for actions that violate Canadian law and the principles of our democracy?
- Does he have concerns that his support of figures like Topp, and his silence when Topp’s ties to figures like Mackenzie are revealed, could be interpreted as endorsing such far-right views?
- How does he respond to those criticizing his silence in relation to these far-right figureheads?
- Does Mr. Poilievre condemn white supremacy and comments from Jeremy Mackenzie, including that he’d like to watch gallows go up on Parliament Hill?
Reactions:
These posts sparked a huge reaction online with several people supporting Pierre’s response, while others felt that Pierre should answer the leading questions listed in the article.
Unfortunately Rachel does not stop at the article, Rachel proceeds to smear by posting using unverified sources from far-left extremist Antifa. Global News’ ties to far-left extremists shows that Pierre Poilievre made the correct choice to rise above their behavior, and to not entertain their questions.
At one point, he pulls out a massive blade, claiming it's his Kirpan.
Even more worrying — he's also wearing sunglasses indoors, even though it's dark. He could walk into something!https://t.co/9Q9yOCUmML
— Rachel Gilmore (@atRachelGilmore) July 7, 2022