OTTAWA The increasing involvement of Elon Musk in political matters and recent decisions at Meta to discontinue fact-checking have made Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's vow to defund the CBC even more significant, as highlighted by Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge. St-Onge emphasized that the debate isn't centered on political affiliations or personal opinions about the CBC but rather on the potential eradication of a vital source of information for Canadians. She expressed concern that Poilievre does not grasp the implications of undermining a trusted news source during a time when foreign billionaires are influencing the information landscape.
Elon Musk, known for his support of former U.S. President Donald Trump, has emerged as a polarizing figure in recent years, especially after acquiring Twitter, which he has since rebranded as X. Recently, Musk has also ventured into Canadian political discussions, openly criticizing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and commending Poilievre. St-Onge remarked on Musk's influence, describing him as a billionaire manipulating elections and political dynamics in Canada. She noted that experts have consensus on the unreliability of social media platforms as credible information sources.
In another significant move, Meta announced that it would replace third-party fact-checking with a new user-driven model called "community notes," which has been welcomed by conservatives. This model, which mirrors the approach adopted by Musk's X, is set to launch in the U.S. before extending to other countries. However, experts have raised alarms that this shift could lead to an increase in misinformation.
When questioned about the platforms' apparent tilt toward Trump-aligned policies or explicit right-wing sentiments, St-Onge criticized the situation as highly dangerous, asserting that communication and information are fundamental to the sanctity of democracy and the election process. The Liberal government is currently at odds with Meta, particularly after the company blocked news content on its platforms in reaction to new legislation intended to mandate compensation for news outlets.
St-Onge's statements occur amidst a leadership contest within the federal Liberals to replace Trudeau, with opposition parties pushing for a potential early election this spring. Poilievre has asserted that, if elected, he would eliminate funding for the English-language CBC while maintaining financial support for Francophone news outlets. In a response to St-Onge's critique, a spokesperson for Poilievre highlighted the Conservative leader's remarks regarding Musk.
Although Poilievre did not explicitly endorse Musk, he mentioned it would be favorable to persuade Musk to establish some of his factories in Canada. St-Onge countered this by accusing Poilievre of "kissing up to Elon Musk" and warned that his actions reflect a willingness to compromise Canadian interests in favor of tech billionaires, potentially harming the country's independent news ecosystem.
St-Onge reaffirmed her commitment to revitalizing the public broadcaster while warning that Poilievre's plan could dismantle a significant Canadian institution that employs a substantial portion of the country's journalists. She expressed concern that Poilievre's intentions to defund the CBC come at a politically charged moment, especially with Trump discussing economic measures to make Canada the 51st state.
During a recent press conference, Trump hinted at using "economic force" to facilitate Canada’s statehood, suggesting Musk would co-lead a new "Department of Government Efficiency." St-Onge highlighted that with Musk's involvement in Trump's administration, X cannot be seen as an independent source of information, raising flags about the credibility of what individuals might consider reliable information on such platforms. St-Onge concluded that media moguls like Musk and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg prioritize profits and power over the public interest and trusted information dissemination.
