CTV News published an article Thursday suggesting 10 to 15% of Canadians hold far-right views, due in part to misinformation amplified by the Freedom Convoy that occupied Ottawa..In the article, CTV cites several "anti-hate experts" that are concerned with an apparent rise of right-wing extremism in Canada. The news article suggests millions of Canadians were drawn into the far-right throughout the pandemic, with some being "indoctrinated by misinformation and lies" that were then amplified by the Freedom Convoy protest back in February..“They were now rubbing shoulders with, you know, racists and bigots and people who would like to use violence to overthrow the government," Evan Balgord, executive director of the Canadian Anti-Hate network, said of Canadians who supported the Freedom Convoy.."A portion of those people are getting further radicalized.”.Balgord goes on to say while there were around 20,000 white supremacists in Canada six years ago, 10 to 15% of Canadians now hold far-right views. Balgord did not cite evidence for his claims..Balgord defined far-right views as holding "extremist" opinions such as being anti-government, anti-science, and holding racist and homophobic beliefs. .In a statement to the Western Standard, Balgord said the far-right is different from regular "small-c" conservatism, "unless you think regular conservatism is tolerant of racism and wants to do away with democracy."."I think it's the responsibility of regular conservatives to make sure those lines don't blur and to protect their position from extremists," Balgord added..However, Balgord made clear not every Freedom Convoy supporter or anti-vaxxer is a racist or white supremacist.."People have real and valid grievances our politics are failing to address, especially those stemming from income inequality.".The CTV article then cited an Abacus Data survey, which found 44% of Canadians believe in at least one conspiracy theory, seemingly suggesting those beliefs are tied to far-right, extremist views..Another poll by EKOS Research is highlighted, which showed 25% of Canadians support the anti-vaccine mandate views held by Freedom Convoy organizers..Stephanie Carvin, a former national security analyst for the Canadian government, is quoted in the article as saying the dominant threats to Canada shifted from foreign terrorist attacks to homegrown extremists..“January 6 changed things in Canada," Carvin said, referencing breech of the US Capitol building by supporters of Donald Trump back in 2021.."We’re now not so much worried about bombs. We’re worried about a mob armed with hockey sticks and fire extinguishers charging at the historical parliament buildings.".There is no evidence mobs of Canadians wielding hockey sticks and fire extinguishers ever planned on besieging Parliament, but in the days before the Freedom Convoy arrived in Ottawa, media outlets and Ottawa residents were worried the protest could turn into a January 6-style event..The article cites several incidents of violence that have occurred in 2022, such as the RCMP seizing weapons and tactical gear from a group that took part in the Coutts border blockade, followers of Q-Anon figure Romana Didul attempting to place police officers in Peterborough, ON under citizen’s arrests, and an Alberta man who hurled insults at Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland..Heidi Beirich of the US-based Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, claims in the article extremists are "exploring real grievances" like job losses and rising costs of living. She says the solution to this problem is for the federal government to pass a "digital accountability law" that would incentivize social media companies to censor disinformation shared on their platforms..“This is a situation where we have a growing far-right movement that’s a threat to a lot of things: climate change, racial injustice and sound immigration policies. The list could go on,” Beirich said. She did not elaborate..Beirich said the far-right should not be ignored, as it already "has the oxygen." The question, she said, should be whether they are being "appropriately examined and interrogated by the press about their beliefs and ideas so other people can be inoculated from their views.”
CTV News published an article Thursday suggesting 10 to 15% of Canadians hold far-right views, due in part to misinformation amplified by the Freedom Convoy that occupied Ottawa..In the article, CTV cites several "anti-hate experts" that are concerned with an apparent rise of right-wing extremism in Canada. The news article suggests millions of Canadians were drawn into the far-right throughout the pandemic, with some being "indoctrinated by misinformation and lies" that were then amplified by the Freedom Convoy protest back in February..“They were now rubbing shoulders with, you know, racists and bigots and people who would like to use violence to overthrow the government," Evan Balgord, executive director of the Canadian Anti-Hate network, said of Canadians who supported the Freedom Convoy.."A portion of those people are getting further radicalized.”.Balgord goes on to say while there were around 20,000 white supremacists in Canada six years ago, 10 to 15% of Canadians now hold far-right views. Balgord did not cite evidence for his claims..Balgord defined far-right views as holding "extremist" opinions such as being anti-government, anti-science, and holding racist and homophobic beliefs. .In a statement to the Western Standard, Balgord said the far-right is different from regular "small-c" conservatism, "unless you think regular conservatism is tolerant of racism and wants to do away with democracy."."I think it's the responsibility of regular conservatives to make sure those lines don't blur and to protect their position from extremists," Balgord added..However, Balgord made clear not every Freedom Convoy supporter or anti-vaxxer is a racist or white supremacist.."People have real and valid grievances our politics are failing to address, especially those stemming from income inequality.".The CTV article then cited an Abacus Data survey, which found 44% of Canadians believe in at least one conspiracy theory, seemingly suggesting those beliefs are tied to far-right, extremist views..Another poll by EKOS Research is highlighted, which showed 25% of Canadians support the anti-vaccine mandate views held by Freedom Convoy organizers..Stephanie Carvin, a former national security analyst for the Canadian government, is quoted in the article as saying the dominant threats to Canada shifted from foreign terrorist attacks to homegrown extremists..“January 6 changed things in Canada," Carvin said, referencing breech of the US Capitol building by supporters of Donald Trump back in 2021.."We’re now not so much worried about bombs. We’re worried about a mob armed with hockey sticks and fire extinguishers charging at the historical parliament buildings.".There is no evidence mobs of Canadians wielding hockey sticks and fire extinguishers ever planned on besieging Parliament, but in the days before the Freedom Convoy arrived in Ottawa, media outlets and Ottawa residents were worried the protest could turn into a January 6-style event..The article cites several incidents of violence that have occurred in 2022, such as the RCMP seizing weapons and tactical gear from a group that took part in the Coutts border blockade, followers of Q-Anon figure Romana Didul attempting to place police officers in Peterborough, ON under citizen’s arrests, and an Alberta man who hurled insults at Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland..Heidi Beirich of the US-based Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, claims in the article extremists are "exploring real grievances" like job losses and rising costs of living. She says the solution to this problem is for the federal government to pass a "digital accountability law" that would incentivize social media companies to censor disinformation shared on their platforms..“This is a situation where we have a growing far-right movement that’s a threat to a lot of things: climate change, racial injustice and sound immigration policies. The list could go on,” Beirich said. She did not elaborate..Beirich said the far-right should not be ignored, as it already "has the oxygen." The question, she said, should be whether they are being "appropriately examined and interrogated by the press about their beliefs and ideas so other people can be inoculated from their views.”
