Liberal MP falls for fake Freedom Convoy account, gets called out by Poilievre

"I don’t need to be spreading misinformation — there’s plenty of real info that is equally alarming," Gerretsen Tweeted the next day.

Yesterday I posted this tweet. I have since deleted it given that I have come to believe the account is not perhaps as genuine as it claims to be. I don’t need to be spreading misinformation — there’s plenty of real info that is equally alarming. ✌️#cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/2R1ZzYY7nT

— Mark Gerretsen 🇨🇦 🇺🇦 (@MarkGerretsen) June 26, 2022

The Twitter account Canada Day Convoy claimed to represent a second Freedom Convoy that planned to arrive in Ottawa for Canada Day. The creator of the account told the Western Standard last week that 50,000 people would accompany the convoy, and that they would not leave until Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned.

Following the Twitter account's claims, several Ottawa residents took to social media to voice their anxieties surrounding the prospect of another occupation.

But the account could not provide any proof that it is connected with a convoy movement, or that one is even heading to the nation's capital. It has made several other unsubstantiated claims, including that Poilievre had endorsed their movement and will meet with them on July 1, and that the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) will be allowing truckers and bikers to park close to Parliament Hill.

OPS said they will not allow another convoy to "occupy" Ottawa on Canada Day, which is why they will establish a motor vehicle exclusion zone to keep vehicles taking part in protests out of the downtown core.

Gerretsen said following his initial Tweet, several people reached out to him and gave him some "pretty convincing reasons" to believe that the account is not organizing a convoy. "So, no sense feeding into someone else’s ulterior motive — whatever it may be," he said.

On Monday, Poilievre called out Gerretsen for his Tweet.

"The same Liberals who say they need to censor the internet to stop disinformation have been caught spreading tweets from a fake twitter account set up to misrepresent Convoy protesters," he said. "The best way for Liberals to fight disinformation is to stop spreading it."

Freelance journalist and protest organizer Andy Lee thanked Gerretsen for calling out the Canada Day Convoy account.

"That account is definitely not genuine nor is it affiliated with any of the freedom event organizers I know. We have no clue who runs it or what they are trying to achieve other than to stir up trouble," she said.

Toronto Sun columnist Lorrie Goldstein responded to Gerretsen's Tweet, "Pro tip: When you apologize for being fooled by a troll account, just apologize."

"Pro tip: it’s not an apology," Gerretsen responded. "So I guess you’re 1/2 right."