INCIDENTS

Incidents

Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre restricts press conference questions 

At a press conference in Toronto, federal Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre refused to take questions except from publications which had been pre-selected by his communications team. Poilievre took questions from True North, Rebel News, Y Media SouthAsianDaily, Oxygen Canada News and Radio-Canada.  “When asked why, his team just said ‘That’s what we’re doing today,’”…

Media access restricted at federal Conservative party rally

Media workers covering a federal Conservative party rally in Ottawa were restricted to an area at the back of the room, and not allowed to move around or interview people.  “Please note that media are to remain in the designated zone and will not be permitted to roam the room or foyer to conduct interviews,”…

Nova Scotia government restricts media access at provincial legislature 

The Nova Scotia government introduced a new policy to prevent ministers from answering questions from journalists in the provincial legislature building.  Previously, journalists could interview ministers in the lobby and other common areas of the building; under the new policy introduced by NS premier Tim Houston, interviews are allowed only in a designated media room…

Western Standard journalist denied access to Liberal leadership candidate campaign event

Western Standard journalist James Snell was denied access to a federal Liberal leadership campaign event held by candidate Mark Carney in Edmonton.  A video of the event shows Snell speaking with a campaign staffer at the door to the event and identifying himself as a journalist and a member of the Alberta Legislature press gallery. …

Kwantlen University student union council bans election candidates speaking to media

Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s student union introduced a new policy barring student council candidates from speaking to the media during elections. The new electoral regulations state that student council candidates “will be disqualified if they publish news articles on their candidacy or platform, engage in interviews with news outlets once the period for nominations is opened,…

Chilling statements by HonestReporting Canada in December 2024

In December 2024, HonestReporting Canada published at least 27 campaigns which named at least 25 individual media workers.

Canadian journalist detained and refused entry to Turkey

Canadian journalist Neil Hauer was detained for 16 hours and refused entry to Turkey at Istanbul airport.  In a thread on X (formerly Twitter), Hauer said that he had flown from Yerevan, Armenia to Istanbul. When he arrived, officials at passport told him he was “on the blacklist,” Hauer wrote.  Hauer said he planned to…

TVA journalists assaulted by protesters

TVA journalist Hadi Hassin, a TVA camera operator and two security guards were pushed repeatedly and sprayed with paint during a protest against NATO in downtown Montreal.  Videos of the incident show protesters gathered outside the Palais des congrès in Montreal. As masked protesters began smashing windows, people in the crowd began shoving the journalists. …

TVA journalists assaulted by protesters

TVA journalist Hadi Hassin, a TVA camera operator and two security guards were pushed repeatedly and sprayed with paint during a protest against NATO in downtown Montreal.  Videos of the incident show protesters gathered outside the Palais des congrès in Montreal. As masked protesters began smashing windows, people in the crowd began shoving the journalists. …

Chilling statements by HonestReporting Canada in November 2024

In November 2024, HonestReporting Canada published at least 54 campaigns which named at least 47 individual media workers.