It seems we have officially entered the post-truth era. We’ve been heading toward it for some time, but some recent events have shown that telling the truth can actually attract punishment. For a while now, people have been referring to things they call “my truth” or “your truth,” attempting to show that various interpretations of the truth can be acceptable when in reality there is only one version of the truth and everything else is false.
The state of our media is an excellent example. Sylvain Charlebois, also known as the Food Professor, wrote a weekly column in the Quebec newspaper LaPresse for 25 years. A few weeks ago, Charlebois publicly criticized public subsidies for Canadian media. He stated that government-funded media ran the risk of self-censorship. LaPresse, which accepts a considerable amount of government subsidy, said that Charlebois’ statement undermined the credibility of their newsroom and violated the trust they hold with their readers.
Of course, Charlebois was absolutely correct, as government subsidy of legacy media has absolutely undermined their credibility. The fact that media has become so very accepting of the federal Liberal government, first under former prime minister Justin Trudeau and subsequently under Prime Minister Mark Carney, has not helped their reputation. No one paying attention can deny that there has been a drastic change in the media treatment of government since the subsidies started in 2018, from regular media criticisms to regular praise. Canadian legacy media clearly believes in the old adage that you don’t bite the hand that feeds you. For his truth-telling, Charlebois’ regular column was cancelled by LaPresse. By doing this, LaPresse basically proved Charlebois correct.
On the other end of the political spectrum, Supriya Dwivedi’s regular column in the Toronto Star was recently cancelled after she pointed out some errors in the Star’s coverage of Liberal Nate Erskine-Smith. Dwivedi was a former staffer in Trudeau’s PMO, so seemingly very much in sync with the leftist Toronto Star. The Star issued a correction after Dwivedi’s criticisms, effectively conceding that Dwivedi’s accusations were correct. But they still cancelled her regular column. Even for the left, where most of Canada’s media still leans, it seems telling the truth is a punishable offence.
One of the most recent and most colossal lies told to Canadians was the claim that hundreds of unmarked graves of indigenous children had been discovered close to a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C. This news circulated around the world, putting Canada in a terrible light. Then-prime minister Trudeau lowered flags to half-mast for several months. Canadians believed themselves to be responsible for a horrendous deed. Millions of taxpayer dollars were given to the First Nations group involved to excavate the property to prove the existence of these graves. Yet to date, not one grave has been found and the First Nations group involved has exhibited no interest in excavating the site to prove their claim.
As the fifth anniversary of the residential school grave story has just passed, this issue has gotten more attention in the media in recent weeks. Finally, some media outlets are admitting that they accepted the truth of this story far too readily without checking the facts. The Globe and Mail issued an editorial last week stating that they were wrong in publicizing the story of the residential school graves with no proof, entitled “There is no reconciliation without truth.” Five years later, they are finally correct.
We see it in our politicians too. Politicians of all political stripes have certainly been known to stretch the truth. But when they state an absolute howler of a lie, they should be called out on it. For instance, Carney recently stood up in the House of Commons and said with a straight face “affordability is the best it’s been in over a decade.” Every Canadian knows that is a bald-faced lie, yet the legacy media did not question it. How can we possibly expect to have a functional country – let alone a successful one – if we keep accepting lies that prevent us from moving forward?
Unfortunately, the fact our media is being so heavily subsidized by our tax dollars means they will not be telling us the truth anytime soon if it conflicts with the Liberal government’s version of events, in fear of losing their billions of dollars of subsidies. Sadly, unless we Canadians take the time to do our own research and make an effort to learn about what is really happening, we’ll continue to base important decisions on lies. Seems that George Orwell wasn’t writing fiction after all.
She has published numerous articles in journals, magazines & other media on issues such as free trade, finance, entrepreneurship & women business owners. Ms. Swift is a past President of the Empire Club of Canada, a former Director of the CD Howe Institute, the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, SOS Children’s Villages, past President of the International Small Business Congress and current Director of the Fraser Institute. She was cited in 2003 & 2012 as one of the most powerful women in Canada by the Women’s Executive Network & is a recipient of the Queen’s Silver & Gold Jubilee medals.
