MP raising concerns over extremist newspaper
TRURO, N.S. — Cumberlandcolchester MP Lenore Zann is speaking out after constituents raised concerns about a faith-based U.S. newspaper, pushing extremist views on China and former U.S. president Donald Trump, recently appeared in residential mailboxes.
Last week, free samples of The Epoch Times made its way to mailboxes across the nation, including Colchester County.
Some stories in the issue treat conspiracy theories as facts, claiming baseless claims that China covered up COVID, manipulated the U.S. election results in Biden’s favour and that communism is ruling the world. Most articles are anti-china, while some focus on health and wellness. The faith-based paper, founded in 2000, has connections to the new Falun Gong spiritual movement.
Zann believes most Canadians can recognize propaganda, but she suggested those who do not keep up to date on what is happening in the world might receive it and take the stories at face value.
“It would appear to me that (most) people in this area are actually waking up to this, saying ‘It's just conspiracy theories, it's ridiculous, and why am I being sent this?’ said Zann. “A very small percentage of people are saying: 'Well, I don't see anything wrong with it and we can read it or not read it.'"
Some constituents refused to read the paper and used it for wood fires or with cat litter. Karen Macquarrie of Valley, N.S., first saw the paper mentioned by a Facebook friend in Alberta who was denouncing vaccines. Three days later, she found it in her mailbox and immediately tossed it into her compost.
“I was disappointed that Canada Post had allowed it to be delivered,” said Macquarrie. “It definitely should be banned ... there's a lot of people ... who are looking for something and who could eat this right up and take it at face value and believe everything.”
Macquarrie is a retired schoolteacher and believes promoting literacy in schools is important for people to establish critical reading and thinking. She worries about the kinds of organizations that put funds into spreading the newspaper.
“I have concerns because people can jump to conclusions without giving a proper credence and not investigating the sources,” said Macquarrie. “People need to be able to read to comprehend, and to discern truth from fiction."
The Epoch Times has spread not just to Canada, but across the globe. And last year, it bought the most protrump Facebook ads than any other organization, which were later banned by the social media site.
Zann, who sits on the Special Committee on Canadachina Relations, which is investigating human rights abuses in China, says that the publication is pushing extremist right-wing views which can lead to dangerous consequences, pointing to anti-semitism views leading up to the Second World War as an example.
She has asked Public Services of Procurement Minister Anita Anand to look into the situation. After samples of the paper were sent to parts of Ontario last May, an investigation determined that Canada Post had an obligation to deliver the paid-for papers.
She said that the stories can fuel racism and are hurtful to Chinese residents and postal workers in Canada. CTV News has reported one Regina postal worker who is refusing to deliver the paper.
“Unfortunately, according to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, it's not our job to censor this material to censor material unless it is hate speech and inciting violence directly,” said Zann. “I said: ‘Well, I'm receiving tons of complaints from people. So please look into this again.’ Obviously, spreading lies and fake news is a problem in society. And we don't have to look farther than the south of the border to see where it can lead.”