We've been told for so long that if you read it in the paper, it's probably true because the paper wouldn't take the chance of being sued for libel. That extends to the growth arms of the newspapers which present news and eventually to all forms of media.
It's brilliant, really. Buy the news media and you control the population. To do this you have to have money and ideally a permanent mouthpiece like Pierre. Fortunately enough Canadians see through the fog and recognize brilliance and achievement that they chose new leadership wisely.
This may not have happened if Canadians were not as well educated as they are. They must be careful not to be seen as the elite, as disparaging to the less educated. When the fruits of growth are harvested they must benefit all Canadians equally. Only then can we fully pursue a collective Nationalism based on pride of the country.
Jim... there’s definitely truth in what you’re pointing at, especially the idea that people used to trust what they read a lot more than they do now.
That trust has taken a hit… and not without reason.
But I try to be careful with the “control the population” angle.
It can turn into an all-or-nothing view pretty fast... and reality’s usually messier than that.
What I do think is happening is simpler… and in some ways more powerful...
People are being steered, not controlled.
Through repetition, framing, and selective focus...
over time, that shapes how things feel, even when the underlying facts
don’t fully support it.
And you’re right about something important at the end there…
If people start feeling like the system only works for a slice of the population, that’s when trust really breaks down... regardless of who’s in power.
That’s why I try to stay focused on outcomes.
What’s actually improving?
What isn’t?
And who’s benefiting from it?
Cut through the noise… look at results… and let people decide from there 👍
Totally agree. I have posted several times that at the Federal level, we should be passing legislation that all media outlets in Canada MUST be more than 50% Canadian owned.
It’s bad enough that we put up with all the American TV new stations, but then to also have to listen to Poilievre’s takedown of anything Carney says, without sufficiently educated interviewers to know when the truth is spoken and to fact check some of his lies is almost a step too far.
I suspect it much like the news in the States. If you listen to mainstream media or staunch Republicans, everything is hunky dory & if it’s not, it’s the Democrats fault. Rather like the Quebec conservatives/MAGA versus the rest of us.
Well if it’s the American owned Canadian media that’s the reason. I think it’s best to just get your information from 1 reliable source. That would be PM Carney himself. When I listen to him I feel were are in a really awesome place. I trust him totally unlike our mainstream media. Having listened to so many lies from the American media I have learned not to give the Canadian media my attention. The only reason I’m still on substack is I abhor the President and I can’t wait to see him gone.
I understand what you’re saying but all I read are lies. I feel Mark loves his country. He’s from around my area. I can’t read the bs anymore. However I will write a letter to the government about what they can do to change the ownership to 80% Canadian. It’s a start, not that they listen. But it’s something they should be looking at anyway.
The intriguing thing about the negativity in MSM, is that it always reaches peek crescendo when critical national issues are forefront. By this point, it's becoming very clear that it's the unstated objective of one of Canada's political parties to disparage one of Canada's other political parties. Leadership, ethics, abject criticism without the receipts, and doomcasting uncharted waters. As if the future was predictable. Canadians have seen the consequences of extreme political polarization, and the drift to authoritarianism in a country that we socially and economically aligned with. National autonomy is strength, difficult at times, but the only reasonable way forward. Returning to my earlier point about behavioral characteristics of political parties, and leadership, the concrete question becomes clearer. If your not striving to make Canada stronger, fairer, healthier, then who are you working for, and why. Sorry readers .. I do ramble at times.
As soon as people wake up to the fact that right wing maga billionaires control the media and abandon them, the sooner we will be better off. I would love to see their media empires crumble and go bankrupt.
I am tired of Canadian “Opinion” pieces that indicate the Carney government is promising the sky and we should be suspicious. Mr. Carney is planning to move us forward on many fronts and pointing out the strengths that Canada has. Unless Trump pulls a Maduro, Mr. Carney will be our PM for two years. Canadians can either support the Liberal agenda or build the Conservative and NDP parties into credible opposition parties. Any media outlet that builds fear or suspicion is working against Canada and we have to ask why.
There are very large threats to Canada from the US specifically in regards to the Canadian manufacturing sector which to date have been largely shielded by the CUSMA agreement. But even that is being tested by the recently revised steel tariffs and the instability that the current tariff environment and lack of stability acts to prevents investment. To say nothing about the overt attacks on Canadian industry designed to get them to move to the US. The economic terrorism that has been somewhat restrained may soon be gloves off economic warfare if CUSMA is not continued. The situation worries me. It's not right, or fair. But the again the US oligharchy do not care about fair because in their minds they are entitled to the worlds resources. So there is that. The past is a poor extrapolation of the future which will likely have a significantly different political and International trading dynamic.
While I agree with everything you say, I think it's important to note that legacy media are simply irrelevant to most of those under age 40. They get their news, and political opinions from social media, and I don't think it's hyperbole to call it an information wasteland. Add in sycophantic AI, confirmation bias, and government driving as much as possible public opinion to accord with their party ideology, and it's not at all surprising that the average Canadian is misinformed.
In law, the "reasonable person" is that person, non-partisan and fully informed of the facts. How many people today would actually meet that test? Judges regularly apply that test; they are (at least in Canada) by definition non-partisan, and their decisions are based on the evidence presented and accepted at trial. But the average citizen? The evidence suggests very few meet that test.
Brad... that’s a solid point, and I don’t disagree.
The delivery system has changed. Legacy media isn’t the gatekeeper it used to be… but the dynamic hasn’t disappeared... it’s just spread out.
Instead of a few large outlets shaping the narrative, we’ve now got thousands of smaller ones doing it in fragments... social feeds, algorithms, clips, influencers, even AI.
Different pipes… same water problem.
And you’re right about the “reasonable person” test... it assumes access to balanced information.
That’s getting harder to come by when most people are swimming in curated inputs that reinforce what they already believe.
That’s really why I write the way I do.
Not to convince everyone… and definitely not to cover everything…
Just to take one slice at a time, strip it down, and lay out what’s actually happening without the noise.
If someone wants to dig deeper, great.
If not, at least they’ve seen one version that isn’t trying to pull them in a direction 👍
I fully agree that Canadian control of all media outlets is a necessary law to have passed as soon as possible. Maybe even an investible situation for Canada Strong.
We've been told for so long that if you read it in the paper, it's probably true because the paper wouldn't take the chance of being sued for libel. That extends to the growth arms of the newspapers which present news and eventually to all forms of media.
It's brilliant, really. Buy the news media and you control the population. To do this you have to have money and ideally a permanent mouthpiece like Pierre. Fortunately enough Canadians see through the fog and recognize brilliance and achievement that they chose new leadership wisely.
This may not have happened if Canadians were not as well educated as they are. They must be careful not to be seen as the elite, as disparaging to the less educated. When the fruits of growth are harvested they must benefit all Canadians equally. Only then can we fully pursue a collective Nationalism based on pride of the country.
Jim... there’s definitely truth in what you’re pointing at, especially the idea that people used to trust what they read a lot more than they do now.
That trust has taken a hit… and not without reason.
But I try to be careful with the “control the population” angle.
It can turn into an all-or-nothing view pretty fast... and reality’s usually messier than that.
What I do think is happening is simpler… and in some ways more powerful...
People are being steered, not controlled.
Through repetition, framing, and selective focus...
over time, that shapes how things feel, even when the underlying facts
don’t fully support it.
And you’re right about something important at the end there…
If people start feeling like the system only works for a slice of the population, that’s when trust really breaks down... regardless of who’s in power.
That’s why I try to stay focused on outcomes.
What’s actually improving?
What isn’t?
And who’s benefiting from it?
Cut through the noise… look at results… and let people decide from there 👍
Totally agree. I have posted several times that at the Federal level, we should be passing legislation that all media outlets in Canada MUST be more than 50% Canadian owned.
It’s bad enough that we put up with all the American TV new stations, but then to also have to listen to Poilievre’s takedown of anything Carney says, without sufficiently educated interviewers to know when the truth is spoken and to fact check some of his lies is almost a step too far.
David... I get the concern. Ownership matters… no question.
But I’m a bit cautious about going straight to government deciding who can own what in media. That can open a different can of worms pretty fast.
To me, the bigger issue is transparency and accountability.
If people know who owns an outlet, what their incentives are, and how consistent their editorial slant is…
they can adjust how seriously they take what they’re reading.
Right now, most people don’t dig that far... they just absorb the headline.
And you’re absolutely right about interviews and fact-checking.
Too often it’s just talking points flying back and forth with no one slowing it down to challenge the claims in real time.
That’s part of why I focus on breaking things down after the fact... strip out the rhetoric and look at what actually holds up.
More informed readers beats more controlled media, in my view 👍
I totally agree. Many thanks to PP who is nothing but negative about Canada. Thank goodness he is not our prime minister.
Stedman... I hear you.
The tone of the conversation matters more than people think.
Constant negativity can make anything look broken… even when it isn’t.
At the same time, I try to keep it less about personalities and more about outcomes.
What’s actually happening in the economy?
What deals are being made?
Where are we improving — and where aren’t we?
If we stay focused on that, it’s a lot harder for any one voice... on any side... to shape the whole picture 👍
Great post that a lot of people need to see & hear Fred! Well done!
Patsy... I appreciate that, thank you 🙏
My goal is pretty simple…
take the noise down a notch and lay out what’s actually happening so people can see it clearly.
There’s enough shouting out there already 👍
I suspect it much like the news in the States. If you listen to mainstream media or staunch Republicans, everything is hunky dory & if it’s not, it’s the Democrats fault. Rather like the Quebec conservatives/MAGA versus the rest of us.
Sherry... there’s definitely a similar pattern, yeah.
Different countries… same playbook:
pick a lane, frame everything through it, and keep repeating it until it sticks.
I try to stay out of the “us vs them” side of it as much as I can though.
Once everything turns into teams, people stop listening and just defend their side.
That’s why I stick to the data and the actual developments...
trade deals, economic signals, what’s moving and what’s not.
Less heat… more signal 👍
Well if it’s the American owned Canadian media that’s the reason. I think it’s best to just get your information from 1 reliable source. That would be PM Carney himself. When I listen to him I feel were are in a really awesome place. I trust him totally unlike our mainstream media. Having listened to so many lies from the American media I have learned not to give the Canadian media my attention. The only reason I’m still on substack is I abhor the President and I can’t wait to see him gone.
Alexandra... I get where you’re coming from.
After a while, the noise and contradictions can make you want to just pick one voice you trust and stick with it.
But I’d be careful with that approach... no matter who the source is.
Even good leadership should be looked at alongside independent data, different viewpoints, and what’s actually happening on the ground.
That’s how you stay anchored.
For me, it’s less about trusting one voice… and more about comparing a few solid sources and seeing where the facts line up.
That way you’re not relying on any single narrative... media or political.
And honestly, if the story holds up across multiple angles, that’s when you know you’re probably close to the truth 👍
I understand what you’re saying but all I read are lies. I feel Mark loves his country. He’s from around my area. I can’t read the bs anymore. However I will write a letter to the government about what they can do to change the ownership to 80% Canadian. It’s a start, not that they listen. But it’s something they should be looking at anyway.
The intriguing thing about the negativity in MSM, is that it always reaches peek crescendo when critical national issues are forefront. By this point, it's becoming very clear that it's the unstated objective of one of Canada's political parties to disparage one of Canada's other political parties. Leadership, ethics, abject criticism without the receipts, and doomcasting uncharted waters. As if the future was predictable. Canadians have seen the consequences of extreme political polarization, and the drift to authoritarianism in a country that we socially and economically aligned with. National autonomy is strength, difficult at times, but the only reasonable way forward. Returning to my earlier point about behavioral characteristics of political parties, and leadership, the concrete question becomes clearer. If your not striving to make Canada stronger, fairer, healthier, then who are you working for, and why. Sorry readers .. I do ramble at times.
Pete... no apology needed, there’s some good thinking in there 👍
You’re right about one thing in particular…
the volume tends to spike right when the stakes are highest.
That’s when framing matters most, so it’s when you see the strongest narratives pushed.
Where I try to stay careful is not turning it into “one side is doing this, the other isn’t.”
Every political camp has an incentive to frame things in a way that benefits them... that’s just part of the game.
That’s why I keep coming back to the same filter...
What’s actually happening?
What do the numbers say?
What outcomes are we seeing?
Strip away the tone, the rhetoric, the predictions… and look at what’s real.
If we stay anchored there, it’s a lot harder for any narrative...
from any direction... to run the show 👍
As soon as people wake up to the fact that right wing maga billionaires control the media and abandon them, the sooner we will be better off. I would love to see their media empires crumble and go bankrupt.
Brian... I get the frustration.
A lot of people feel like the information space is tilted, and that builds over time.
Where I try to stay grounded is this…
Walking away from sources you don’t trust makes sense.
Wanting them to collapse entirely?
That can push things into a different kind of echo chamber.
We don’t fix a skewed information environment by shrinking it...
we fix it by having more transparency, more scrutiny,
and more people thinking critically about what they’re reading.
Ownership matters. Incentives matter.
But so does having a range of voices people can compare.
At the end of the day, the strongest position isn’t “trust this” or “reject that”...
it’s being able to look at multiple angles and still land on the facts 👍
I am tired of Canadian “Opinion” pieces that indicate the Carney government is promising the sky and we should be suspicious. Mr. Carney is planning to move us forward on many fronts and pointing out the strengths that Canada has. Unless Trump pulls a Maduro, Mr. Carney will be our PM for two years. Canadians can either support the Liberal agenda or build the Conservative and NDP parties into credible opposition parties. Any media outlet that builds fear or suspicion is working against Canada and we have to ask why.
Joanna — I get the frustration. The constant “be suspicious of everything” angle can wear people down pretty fast.
At the same time, I try not to land in a place where any criticism automatically means someone is “against Canada.”
Healthy scrutiny matters Joanna... even for governments we support.
What I look for is the difference between...
Constructive criticism backed by facts
and
Fear-driven narratives with no substance behind them.
Those are not the same thing.
And you’re right about one key piece…
If the direction we’re heading actually delivers...
stronger economy, better outcomes, broader opportunity...
then people will feel it. That’s what ultimately builds trust.
Right now, we’re seeing a mix of both optimism and real challenges.
For example, the government is pushing major economic initiatives like a new national investment fund to drive long-term growth...
while also dealing with trade pressure and cost-of-living concerns.
So for me, it comes back to outcomes over messaging.
Cut through the noise…
watch what actually gets built, signed, and delivered…
and let that speak louder than any headline 👍
There are very large threats to Canada from the US specifically in regards to the Canadian manufacturing sector which to date have been largely shielded by the CUSMA agreement. But even that is being tested by the recently revised steel tariffs and the instability that the current tariff environment and lack of stability acts to prevents investment. To say nothing about the overt attacks on Canadian industry designed to get them to move to the US. The economic terrorism that has been somewhat restrained may soon be gloves off economic warfare if CUSMA is not continued. The situation worries me. It's not right, or fair. But the again the US oligharchy do not care about fair because in their minds they are entitled to the worlds resources. So there is that. The past is a poor extrapolation of the future which will likely have a significantly different political and International trading dynamic.
Larry... you’re raising two different issues there, and both are worth paying attention to.
On media ownership…
I understand the instinct, but I’m still cautious about solving that with hard rules.
The better fix, in my view, is transparency and awareness so people can weigh what they’re reading instead of being steered by it.
On the trade side... that’s the real pressure point.
You’re right that the current tariff environment and uncertainty around CUSMA make it harder for companies to commit to long-term investment.
Businesses don’t like guessing games… they like stability.
And yes, there’s always going to be a pull from the U.S. to attract industry south.
That’s not new... it just gets more aggressive when conditions allow it.
Where I try to stay anchored is this... We’re not powerless in that equation.
Canada’s been actively diversifying trade, building new partnerships, and strengthening sectors like energy and critical minerals.
That’s how you reduce dependence over time... not overnight, but steadily.
The future probably will look different, like you said.
But I’d frame it less as “inevitable economic warfare”
and more as a period of increased pressure...
where smart positioning matters more than ever.
That’s the part we can actually control 👍
While I agree with everything you say, I think it's important to note that legacy media are simply irrelevant to most of those under age 40. They get their news, and political opinions from social media, and I don't think it's hyperbole to call it an information wasteland. Add in sycophantic AI, confirmation bias, and government driving as much as possible public opinion to accord with their party ideology, and it's not at all surprising that the average Canadian is misinformed.
In law, the "reasonable person" is that person, non-partisan and fully informed of the facts. How many people today would actually meet that test? Judges regularly apply that test; they are (at least in Canada) by definition non-partisan, and their decisions are based on the evidence presented and accepted at trial. But the average citizen? The evidence suggests very few meet that test.
Brad... that’s a solid point, and I don’t disagree.
The delivery system has changed. Legacy media isn’t the gatekeeper it used to be… but the dynamic hasn’t disappeared... it’s just spread out.
Instead of a few large outlets shaping the narrative, we’ve now got thousands of smaller ones doing it in fragments... social feeds, algorithms, clips, influencers, even AI.
Different pipes… same water problem.
And you’re right about the “reasonable person” test... it assumes access to balanced information.
That’s getting harder to come by when most people are swimming in curated inputs that reinforce what they already believe.
That’s really why I write the way I do.
Not to convince everyone… and definitely not to cover everything…
Just to take one slice at a time, strip it down, and lay out what’s actually happening without the noise.
If someone wants to dig deeper, great.
If not, at least they’ve seen one version that isn’t trying to pull them in a direction 👍
Thank you Fred, great article. Love your work 💯💯💯🇨🇦💪🏻
I fully agree that Canadian control of all media outlets is a necessary law to have passed as soon as possible. Maybe even an investible situation for Canada Strong.
That’s why I have tuned out 🇨🇦 MSM. All cringe and decidedly one track reporting bordering on fear mongering, hypocrisy and propaganda.
Coming from polywog maybe???
Sorry! Hit send by mistake.