Millions of Canadians believe far-right conspiracy theories, claims Canadian Anti-Hate Network

The Canadian Anti-Hate Network claims that as many as six million Canadians believe "one or more" far-right conspiracy theories, and wants $2.5 million a year from the federal government to monitor them. 

Canadian Anti-Hate Network claims 6 million Canadians conspiracy theorists | Western Standard | Christopher Oldcorn:

September 24, 2023 - "According to a 'media monitor' that receives federal subsidies, approximately 15% of Canadians are considered conspiracy theorists, as many as six million people. According to Blacklock’s Reporter, the Canadian Anti-Hate Network believes it needs additional financial support to combat those who aim to 'do away with our liberal democracy.' 

The Red Ensign, Canada's flag before 1965, is a hate symbol, says 

the Canadian Anti-Hate Network. Photo, Wikimedia Commons.

"'We believe 10% to 15% of Canadians are consuming far-right content and believe in one or more far-right conspiracy theories,' the Network wrote in a submission to the Commons Finance committee. It provided no source for the claim....  The Network applied for $5 million in funding over five years to serve as an unofficial 'anti-hate watchdog' for the Government of Canada.

"'None of the government’s programs explicitly name the far-right as a threat to Canada’s democracy and marginalized groups,” it wrote the Finance committee. 'None of them fund efforts to address the far-right movement as a significant origin of hate in Canada. We need to address the far right because it wants to do away with our liberal democracy.'

"The Network [has] received two grants, one for $268,400 to maintain its website and another separate grant of $268,400 to produce a school guide, Confronting and Preventing Hate in Canadian Schools. On June 29, 2022, then-Diversity Minister Ahmed Hussen called the Network 'an organization that I respect very much.'

"The Network’s school guide called the 'Red Ensign' a hate symbol, despite it being Canada's national symbol until 1965. .... [T]he guide stated the Conservative Party was susceptible to 'infiltration' by 'racists' and 'white nationalists.' Additionally, the guide cautioned children to be cautious of Canadians who use 'free speech' in political discussions, as it claimed this was one of the 'common defences of hate propaganda.'

"In its Finance committee submission, the Network described the Freedom Convoy as a 'product of Canada’s far-right movement'.... 'The COVID-19 conspiracy movement and Freedom Convoy have since pivoted to attacking the (sexual minority) community primarily by spreading the dangerous and inciting lie that transgender persons and sexual minority persons are pedophiles with an agenda,' wrote the Network. 'Today they are targeting school boards and trying to ban books, force students to use the wrong washrooms and force teachers to out the gender and sexual identity of their students to what might be unsafe homes.'"

Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/news/canadian-anti-hate-network-claims-6-million-canadians-conspiracy-theorists/article_dc0a1cee-5983-11ee-9aa1-53a564e310ae.html