Dear independent journalists,
I’m thrilled to announce that I am resuming my presidency of the Independent Press Gallery of Canada. We founded this organization four years ago when it was clear that independent journalists and outlets were being excluded from the national conversation – and literally prevented from doing our jobs.
In the last four years, these problems have only gotten worse.
Just last month, Rebel News founder and IPG member Ezra Levant was arrested by the Toronto Police Service while engaging in journalism at a protest glorifying Hamas terrorists. The right to report on public demonstrations is about as clear cut as it gets as far as press freedom is concerned.
While the Toronto Police Service didn’t lay charges, the arrest itself sends a chill that will discourage other journalists – especially those who cannot afford legal representation – from doing the work Canada needs them to do.
Beyond this, the federal government is continuing to ban journalists it doesn’t like from its press conferences and events, even going so far as to have them arrested if they dare to try reporting without government approval.
The independent media ecosystem is under threat by a suite of bills the federal government has passed or is planning – from C-11 and C-18, which both have monumental implications for how news outlets can get their content out online, to the Online Harms Act, through which the government plans to regulate what it calls “hate speech” by forcing social media companies to remove content at the government’s request.
Despite all of this, the major bodies in Canada that purport to represent journalists have been silent. They are only interested in protecting the rights – and market share – of a handful of established legacy media outlets or left-wing start-ups, leaving outlets that push back against the woke nonsense and stand up for freedom without a voice.
That’s why I’m proud to step forward once again to fight for independent media as president of the Independent Press Gallery. I extend my thanks to Andrew Lawton, who has stepped back to undertake a political run, for his efforts to date, and to Lindsay Shepherd, for her work behind the scenes.
The future for independent media is bright, with more voices and players entering the scene routinely. But we need to ensure that all of us have the opportunity to succeed in the face of such mounting opposition. I’m confident we can do this – together.
Sincerely,
Candice Malcolm
Founder and President, Independent Press Gallery of Canada