The proliferation of COVID-related conspiracy theories in the Canadian information environment continued through the first two weeks of November. Anti-mask narratives that tap into fear and uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, and the growing number of COVID infections, aim to sow doubts about government health protocols at both the federal and provincial levels of government.
False Canadian narratives connected to the United States elections have been shared broadly on social media – including disinformation about Canadian federal election ballot counting and a manipulated image that made the outrageous claim that Canada could be preparing to invade the United States.
COVID-19 ‘Cheapfake’: CTV broadcast screen manipulated
A screenshot of a Canadian national news broadcast was manipulated with text suggesting that Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer told Canadians to “practice holding their breath for extended periods of time” as a way to protect oneself from contracting COVID-19.
The fake image, which was shared widely on social media by anti-mask and COVID conspiracy theorists, is intended to provoke a negative reaction from anti-mask supporters and cast doubt on the credibility of Canadian health officials.
DisinfoWatch reviewed CTV’s coverage of Dr. Tam’s COVID-19 press conference and can confirm that the text in the screenshot does not appear during the broadcast. Health Canada officials also confirmed in an email to DisinfoWatch that Dr. Tam has never suggested holding one’s breath as something anyone should be doing in response to COVID-19.
No, Canada is not going to invade the United States
A Facebook post on November 5, 2020, featured an image that seemed to be taken from a leading Canadian media outlet with the headline “Trudeau Promises Military Invention If Trump Refuses to Leave Office.”
The image has been crafted with fonts used by Canada’s CBC News and the name of a Canadian journalist, Jim Bronskill, appears on the by-line.
AFP fact checkers contacted Jim Bronskill who told them that “the story is a fabrication.” The Prime Minister’s office has also said that the image is disinformation.
Sesame Street Isn’t Brainwashing Kids about COVID-19
A post published on a well-known Canadian conspiracy theory website claims that Sesame Street characters have been co-opted to engage in “‘New Normal’ brainwashing for the very young and vulnerable” and labels the video as “propaganda for the whole family.”
A video featuring the beloved furry blue Grover character from the children’s series is identified to be offering “dehumanizing advice to lonely and depressed children.”
The Muppet reminds children of some very basic and standard, personal hygiene procedures – that they should wash their hands before they eat and after they play. Grover then tells viewers that they should maintain social distancing in public and to wear a mask in order to protect “yourself and others.”
The post was published by Global Research, a Montreal-based conspiracy theory website that has been identified by the US State Department’s Global Engagement Center as a prominent amplifier of foreign narratives.
Memes Falsely Link Canadian Election Systems to US Electronic Ballot Counting Machines
Memes shared by thousands of Facebook users in November 2020, falsely claim that electronic ballot counting machines used in the 2020 United States federal election were also used in the 2019 Canadian federal elections. However, electronic ballot counting equipment is not used in Canadian federal election, including the 2019 federal election.
The meme seeks to cast doubt on the validity of the outcome of the 2019 Canadian election using disinformation.
A similar meme, posted on November 13, 2020, suggested that George Soros and the Clinton Foundation are connected to Dominion Voting Systems, which the company has denied.
DisinfoWatch informed Elections Canada about the disinformation memes and asked Elections Canada officials to confirm that electronic ballot counting machines are not used in federal elections on November 12, which they did. Furthermore, Elections Canada posted its own meme countering the false claim in the earlier memes four days later. The Elections Canada post was retweeted by Donald Trump, which was liked by over 216k Twitter users.
Russian Media and Lobster Rights Nova Scotia
A Canadian Small Claims Court adjudicator from Nova Scotia appeared on the Russian state media Sputnik Radio show last month to comment on the lobster fishing conflict between local fishermen and Mi’kmaq. Sputnik interviewed Shelly Martin whose LinkedIn page describes her as legal counsel for the Millbrook First Nation.
Sputnik is a Russian state-owned and operated media outlet whose primary task is to broadcast narratives that support the Kremlin’s foreign policy objectives. It is considered to be a major promoter of malign foreign disinformation intended to undermine civil discourse in western nations including Canada. Stories featured on Sputnik are often intended to aggravate existing divisions on sensitive issues in efforts to polarize western societies.
Any domestic Canadian civil society organizations or government employees who are contacted to provide comment to Sputnik, or any other Kremlin-linked media outlet, should be aware of this affiliation and the impact that their appearance might have on their own organization and objectives.
While the interview itself does not amount to disinformation, it does demonstrate the Kremlin’s interest in the issue and should act as a warning of potential future Russian government interference on this issue in the future.
Russian RT Trudeau Free Speech Meme
Russian state-operated media, RT (Russia Today), shared a meme mocking Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on its Facebook page on November 2. It was shared to thousands of users and liked by over 12k users.
The meme questions Trudeau’s commitment to freedom of expression, stating that the PM “thinks freedom of speech should be limited if it offends people.”
Analysis of social media demonstrates that the meme was shared by conspiracy theorist, WEXIT and pro-Beijing Facebook groups and those amplifying in both far-left and far-right narratives.
While this RT meme does not in and of itself constitute disinformation, it is a clear form of foreign propaganda that is intended to discredit the Prime Minister and divide Canadians. Canadians should take great care before sharing any content that is published by malign foreign regimes and the media that they control. Sharing of this meme contributes to the legitimization of RT and the amplification of narratives that are intended to harm Canada’s democracy and society.
