Canadian investigators refused to offer Rebel News founder Ezra Levant assurances that they wouldn’t raid the offices of his news organization as part of their investigation into Levant’s book criticizing Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, The Libranos.
In undercover footage obtained by Levant, the Rebel News founder asks investigators if they can give him a guarantee that they would not raid Rebel News. As can be seen in the video, the investigators refuse to offer such a guarantee.
Breitbart News reported on the investigation last month, noting the growing crackdown against dissident media in Canada:
In a letter sent to Rebel News in advance of the interrogation, the Canadian elections commission accuses Levant of breaching the recently-amended Canada Elections Act, which requires third parties to register with the government if they spend more than $500 to engage in “partisan activities that are carried out during an election period” and “election advertising expenses.”
The Act does not apply to books, so long as, according to the Act, “the book was planned to be made available to the public regardless of whether there was to be an election.”
The Canadian government has also begun exploring ways to control online media more tightly. A recent report by a state-appointed panel recommended that the government require all distributors of content in Canada to register with the government for a license. The report also recommends the government give the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission the power to determine what counts as an “accurate, trusted, and reliable” news source.
Investigators have demanded that Levant turn over editorial documents, including the plans for his book (since the investigation began, it has reached number one on Amazon in Canada).
“Part of me thinks this whole thing is a stupid joke,” said Levant in a Rebel News video. “I mean, we’re still in Canada, right? This must be a joke, right?”
Allum Bokhari is the senior technology correspondent at Breitbart News.