A billboard erected by an Alberta-based, right-wing media outlet is being investigated by Elections Alberta.
The billboard put up by Rebel Media just south of Edmonton, calls for the firing of Environment Minister and MLA for Lethbridge-West Shannon Phillips.
It reads: “Albertans just can’t trust Shannon Phillips.”
Alberta legislation states that a third-party advertiser has to register with Elections Alberta when spending more than $1,000 on political advertising, something that the Rebel has already run into trouble with this year.
In January, The Rebel put up a similar billboard targeting Education Minister David Eggen, for which they were fined $5,500.
“We’re not a third-party advertiser. We’re journalists with an editorial opinion, so we’re fighting the legitimacy of that censorship law. But more importantly, we’re still exercising our free speech whether Notley likes it or not,” said Sheila Gunn Reid in an article posted on Rebel Media.
The Rebel Media claims it put up the billboard as an editorial opinion, which Ezra Levant, founder of the outlet, said they’re entitled to as journalists.
“We’re journalists because that is what we do. What some desperate, authoritarian demagogue thinks, as she heads to a historic electoral defeat, is the answer to a trivia question — a footnote in history. I don’t need to make the case for our freedom. That’s the default state in Canada. That’s section two of our Charter (of Rights and Freedoms). It’s the censors who have to make the case for gagging me. They’re the bizarre ones.”
Shannon Phillips’ office denied Lethbridge Campus Media’s interview request, but provided the following statement regarding the controversy.
“The Rebel has a long history of attacks on women, minorities and people of colour, LGBTQ Albertans and has strong associations with hate groups in Canada. We have no comment on the misogynist activities of such groups.”
If found guilty again, the Rebel could be fined $100,000, which Levant said would bankrupt them.
We knew it would happen; we didn't know how or when.
The government has convicted us of an offence without showing us the complaint or permitting us a reply.
The first fine is $5,500, climbing to $100,000.
That would bankrupt us.
Learn more & help at https://t.co/CoFzgYlWQN pic.twitter.com/5miKKwR58n
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) January 18, 2019
Levant said another fine won’t stop them from making similar endeavours in the future.
“I’ve stared down death threats from Islamic terrorists when I published the Danish cartoons of Mohammed. You can’t seriously think I’d bend the knee to some bureaucrat, do you?”
