Ottawa vs. Rebel News: Our Battle for Election Debate Access
The latest report questions the commission's role in media accreditation and post-debate press conferences.
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Tonight on The Ezra Levant Show, the Canadian government's debate commission appears determined to control media access to election debates, particularly targeting Rebel News.
Despite court rulings in favour of Rebel News in 2019, 2021, and 2025, the commission's latest report suggests a drastic measure: eliminating post-debate press conferences entirely.
For over 150 years, Canadian election debates were managed by media organizations without government interference. However, Justin Trudeau "nationalized" the debates commission, stacking it with political allies. The commission's primary objective quickly became apparent: to ban journalists critical of the government, including Rebel News and True North.
In 2019, Rebel News was denied accreditation at the last minute and without clear reasons. We successfully challenged this in Federal Court, which ruled the ban unfair and a violation of press freedom under the Charter. The court ordered our accreditation, a decision that enraged Trudeau.
In response, the commission "reverse-engineered" new, complex rules for 2021, hoping to legally bar us. Despite our lawyer's doubts, another Federal Court judge again ordered our accreditation, a "thunderclap" that further angered the Prime Minister.
Rebel News has filed a formal complaint with @debates_can Commissioner Michel Cormier over the harassment, violence, and smear campaign our journalists faced at the leaders’ debates. The media mob attacked us—the Commissioner not only enabled it, he participated in the smear. pic.twitter.com/04Q727vRTl
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 18, 2025
By 2025, with two court defeats, the commission surrendered and granted Rebel News accreditation without a fight, recognizing that further defiance would incur the judges' wrath. This decision, however, sparked outrage from other media organizations, who heckled and shouted at our reporters during the debates.
The commission's recent report reveals their frustration with Rebel News's success in securing access. During the 2025 French debate, Rebel News reporters asked four of the sixteen questions, prompting "frustration" and "disruption" from other media, it claimed. This led to the cancellation of the post-English debate press conference, ostensibly due to concerns about a "respectful and functional environment."
Ezra argues this was a thinly veiled excuse to silence us. Our questions were respectful; it was the "regime journalists" who were disruptive. The commission, unable to legally block Rebel News, opted to eliminate the entire press scrum.
The report questions the commission's role in media accreditation and post-debate press conferences.
The commission suggests maintaining media accreditation and workspaces but ending on-site press conferences, effectively silencing journalists from questioning leaders. This move, seemingly aimed at excluding Rebel News, is acknowledged by the commission as potentially insufficient to prevent conflict.
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COMMENTS
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John Phillips commented 2025-10-29 09:36:08 -0400Is there any possibility that Rebel News, Western Standard and other news agencies organize their own Election Debate? -
Anthony Salotti commented 2025-10-29 06:54:20 -0400Keep telling the truth Rebel News ! Your doing a great job !
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Allan Young commented 2025-10-28 22:07:52 -0400Re: Rebel & True North’s accreditation for the election’s.
Thank You from a Canadian for asking needed question’s !
As for Rosy Barton, labelling you as far right, when; well what is that supposed to mean ?
Start calling her commentaries what they are. Paid Liberal Perspective; which is mis information and disinformation.
Love you guys !
You’re the Clark Kent’s of Canada and somewhat the Western World !
May God bless you & Allah too ! -
Janice Hendriks commented 2025-10-28 21:49:09 -0400A day agoI was watching a British Talk show called Dan Wooten Outspoken. I thought I’d let you know that you were voted Briton of the week because of you fearless,tireless reporting on the Irish migrant situation where you were peppersprayed just for your journalism, I think Dan Wooten used to be a journalist on GB News. He is a free speech advocate however he reports mainly on entertainment and royalty. Any way,congrats on your honour
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Bruce Atchison commented 2025-10-28 20:59:48 -0400How petty the Debates Commission were to just not let anybody question politicians during an election! Why do we need a Debates Commission anyway? We citizens don’t but the Liberals do.
