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Trudeau’s Department of Health paid Twitter ‘influencers’ over $680k to promote federal programs

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From LifeSiteNews

By Clare Marie Merkowsky

‘I was paid by Health Canada to talk about my COVID experience and why I chose to take the vaccine’

Canada’s Department of Health has paid social media influencers over $680,000 to voice support for federal programs, reportedly including the experimental COVID shot, since 2021.

According to information published December 14 by Blacklock’s Reporter, the Department of Health admitted that they hired X (formerly known as Twitter) “influencers” beginning in 2021 to publicly support federal programs on their large platforms.  

“Expenditures relate to work by an agency including planning, material development, influencer outreach and liaison, updates, content monitoring, evaluation and management of payments to influencers,” the cabinet wrote in an Inquiry of Ministry. 

Under the Influencer Marketing Program, influencers were paid a total of $682,166 since 2021, the same year Canada released the experimental COVID vaccines. The influencers were expected to support the federal programs but not to tell the public that they had been paid to do so.  

The government-funded X handles include: AlanisDesilets, ArcticMakeup, BreCarpeRuns, CaleonTwins, CassandraBouchard, CharlotteB123, ChelazonLeroux, ChKairyn, ChristineKissickHome, DanielleIsAnxious, DashingDad_YYC, DoTheDaniel, EveMartel, FleurMaison, IAmSukhManGill, Indigenous_Baddie, ItsChrisRobins, JahJahBanks, JemmyEchd and JoselyneEffa.  

Others were: Life_With_Benjamin, MomRdy2Go, OhKairyn, PascaleDeblois, PlayingWithApparelMen, RafaelLeroy, Riddjyy, ShaneWhalley, ShoshanaRose, SidAfz, ThatWarriorPrincess, TheDadCode, TheDiyMommy, TheLoistGirlsGuide, TheTinaSingh, ThreeLittleSeedlings, TresDuchelle, TychonCarter, UrduMom, VahineLefebvre, VardaEtienne and YoutheCEO. 

While many of the accounts have since been deleted, one of the influencers, going by the handle “Chelazon Leroux,” admitted that he had received payment for promoting the COVID shot but claimed it did not amount to propaganda.   

“Long story short,” Leroux, who works as a “drag queen,” posted on X. “I was paid by Health Canada to talk about my COVID experience and why I chose to take the vaccine, not to force anyone else.” 

“This is no different than people getting paid to promote any other government program, education, healthcare, economics,” he claimed. “And you’d do it to for a bag.” 

Health Canada’s plan to hire influencers was disclosed in a March 24, 2021 notice, which failed to outline the cost of the project. According to the program, influencers were expected to “build the department’s credibility” and must not “tarnish Health Canada’s or the Government of Canada’s reputation.” 

“Digital influencers are defined as people who have built a reputation for their knowledge and expertise on a specific topic,” the notice said. “They make regular posts about that topic on their preferred social media channels and generate large followings of enthusiastic, engaged people who pay close attention to their views.”  

Despite Health Canada’s attempts to justify the program, it was roundly blasted as propaganda by many Canadians.   

“Health Canada has hired social media influencers and minor celebrities to tout the great work it’s doing on Canada’s response to the pandemic,” then-Senator Linda Frum said. 

“These government-paid influencers are not required to reveal they are government-paid influencers because that, of course, would be very embarrassing,” said Senator Frum, adding that the program is a tax-funded attempt to “spread disinformation about Health Canada’s response to the pandemic.” 

Similarly, many Canadians who just learned about the program thanks to the recent report took to X to voice their concern.  

“The Govt of Canada paid big money to influencers to advance the governments narrative,” former intelligence officer and RCMP officer Tom Quiggin wrote 

“When @JustinTrudeau talks about disinformation – he is correct. But he is the problem,” he added. “(BTW, this is just one dept.  No idea on how widespread this practice is in other depts).” 

In 2021, Trudeau said Canadians “vehemently opposed to vaccination” do “not believe in science,” are “often misogynists, often racists,” and questioned whether Canada should continue to “tolerate these people.”  

A recent study done by researchers at the Canada-based Correlation Research in the Public Interest  found that 17 countries have found a “definite causal link” between peaks in all-cause mortality and the fast rollouts of the COVID shots and boosters.   

In November, LifeSiteNews reported about an internal memo from the nation’s health department that shows that officials have refused to release data concerning internal audits related to the COVID crisis that indicate “critical weaknesses and gaps” in its response to the so-called pandemic.  

Later the same month, Statistics Canada found that deaths from both COVID-19 and “unspecified causes” surged following the release of the so-called “safe and effective” vaccines.   

LifeSiteNews has published comprehensive research on the dangers of receiving the experimental vaccine, including heart damage and blood clots.   

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Crown still working to put Lich and Barber in jail

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From LifeSiteNews

By Anthony Murdoch

The Crown’s appeal claims the judge made a mistake in her verdict on the intimidation charges, and also in how she treated aggravating and mitigating factors regarding sentencing.

Government lawyers for the Crown have filed an appeal the acquittals of Freedom Convoy leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber on intimidation charges.

The Crown also wants their recent 18-month conditional sentence on mischief charges replaced with harsher penalties, which could include possible jail time.

According to the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF), it is “asking the Ontario Court of Appeal to enter a conviction on the intimidation charge or order a new trial on that count,” for Barber’s charges.

Specifically, the Crown’s appeal claims that the judge made a mistake in her verdict on the intimidation charges, and also in how she treated aggravating and mitigating factors regarding sentencing.

As reported by LifeSiteNews, both Lich and Barber have filed appeals of their own against their house arrest sentences, arguing that the trial judge did not correctly apply the law on their mischief charges.

Barber’s lawyer, Diane Magas, said that her client “relied in good faith on police and court direction during the protest. The principles of fairness and justice require that citizens not be punished for following the advice of authorities. We look forward to presenting our arguments before the Court.”

On October 7, Ontario Court Justice Heather Perkins-McVey sentenced Lich and Chris Barber to 18 months’ house arrest after being convicted earlier in the year of “mischief.”

Lich was given 18 months less time already spent in custody, amounting to 15 1/2 months.

The Lich and Barber trial concluded in September 2024, more than a year after it began. It was originally scheduled to last 16 days.

As reported by LifeSiteNews, the Canadian government was hoping to put Lich in jail for no less than seven years and Barber for eight years.

LifeSiteNews recently reported that Lich detailed her restrictive house arrest conditions, revealing she is “not” able to leave her house or even pick up her grandchildren from school without permission from the state.

As reported by LifeSiteNews, Lich, reflecting on her recent house arrest verdict, said she has no “remorse” and will not “apologize” for leading a movement that demanded an end to all COVID mandates.

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Freedom Convoy leader Tamara Lich to appeal her recent conviction

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From LifeSiteNews

By Anthony Murdoch

Lawyers will argue that there is no evidence linking Tamara Lich ‘to the misdeeds of others.’

Freedom Convoy leader Tamara Lich said she will appeal her recent mischief conviction in an Ontario court, with her lawyers saying “there was no evidence linking her to the misdeeds of others.”

In a press release late yesterday, Lich’s legal team, headed by Lawrence Greenspon, Eric Granger, and Hannah Drennan, made the announcement.

“Lawyers for Tamara Lich filed Notice of Appeal in the Ontario Court of Appeal of the conviction for mischief arising out of the Freedom Convoy,” the release stated.

Lich’s legal team noted that there are two reasons for the principal grounds of appeal.

“While there was substantial evidence that Tamara encouraged the protesters to be peaceful, lawful and safe, there was no evidence linking her to the misdeeds of others,” they said.

The second reason for the appeal, according to Lich’s lawyers, is that the “trial judge failed to give effect to the principle that communication that would otherwise be mischief is protected by section 2(b) of the Charter, freedom of expression.”

On October 7, Ontario Court Justice Heather Perkins-McVey sentenced Lich and Chris Barber to 18 months’ house arrest after being convicted earlier in the year of “mischief.”

Lich was given 18 months less time already spent in custody, amounting to 15 1/2 months.

As reported by LifeSiteNews, the Canadian government was hoping to put Lich in jail for no less than seven years and Barber for eight years for their roles in the 2022 protests against COVID mandates.

As reported by LifeSiteNews, Lich, reflecting on her recent sentencing of over a year’s house arrest for her role in the 2022 Freedom Convoy, laid bare the fact that when all is said in done, seven years of her life will have been spent in a government-imposed “lockdown” in one form or another.

LifeSiteNews recently reported that Lich detailed her restrictive house arrest conditions, revealing she is “not” able to leave her house or even pick up her grandkids from school without permission from the state.

As reported by LifeSiteNews, Lich, reflecting on her recent house arrest verdict, said she has no “remorse” and will not “apologize” for leading a movement that demanded an end to all COVID mandates.

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