The 2025 Freedom Forum Listing of Important and Influential Canadian "NEW" Media" Outlets
Here's our annual list of 60+ independent Canadian media outlets, an overview of recent Federal government media legislation, plus why legacy media is dying so quickly.
Welcome to Freedom Forum’s second annual listing of important, influential and independent, Canadian “new“ media outlets.
A lot of things have changed since since we published our first listing in December 2023:
New federal government legislation defining the limits of free speech in Canada, in the forms of Bill C-11 (the Online Streaming Act), Bills C-18 (the Online News Act), and the upcoming Bill C-63 (the Online Harms Act), which have changed the national media landscape in ways which few yet understand.
The growth of large, opaque but ongoing Federal media subsidies provided by the Federal government under the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Qualified Canadian Journalism Organizations (QCJOs) designation, essentially a license to practice journalism in Canada. The specific criteria’s required for the QCJO designation remains secret, as do all CRA negotiations. Therefore, as outlined in the November 27th, 2924 Freedom Forum post, “BACK-END: CRA Tracks Coverage of Undefined "Persons & Organizations" When Awarding Journalism Tax Credits,“ the Federal government can reward its friends in the legacy media while creating a financial “barrier to entry” for any new media outlet it doesn’t like.
The incredible growth of alternative media distribution channels via Rumble, Substack, Telegram, “X,“ streaming services and others, which have completely overwhelmed legacy media distribution channels.
The collapse of legacy media independent coverage, which caused a massive loss of credibility during the 2024 US presidential election and contributed to the explosion of new media outlets like the Joe Rogan Experience, the Tucker Carlson Network, Infowars and many others.
There were also the less obvious battles between intelligence agencies, politicians and media outlet.
For example, and as outlined in the September 6th, 2024 CBC News post, “Meet the right-wing Canadian influencers accused of collaborating with an alleged Russian propaganda scheme,” US based, but Canadian owned Tenet Media was accused of allegedly taking funds from “pro-Moscow,” media outlet RT and forced to shutter its doors.
As noted in the November 4th, 2024 Freedom Forum post, “Roasting the Press Episode 46 for Sunday, November 3rd, 2024,” the Tenet Media scandal seems to have been a Biden Administration psyop, designed to frighten media outlets away from independent perspectives.
Dropping off the list this year are Canadian media outlets The Amazing Polly St. George (who cut her content creation way back), Bright Lights News (no longer in existence), Beyond the Narrative (no longer posting new content), Calgary Freedom Central (which now mostly distributes legacy media stories on Telegram), the Canadian Anti-Hate Network (far less influential than it once was), the Canadian Report (now offline) and the Civilian Intelligence Network (no new posts since April 2024).
They’ve been replaced by other outlets with newer perspectives.
Both Kate Wand (https://very-opinionated.com) and Jordan Peterson (https://www.jordanbpeterson.com) have relocated to warmer climates in Mexico and the US. They join Viva Frei (https://rumble.com/user/vivafrei), Kevin J. Johnston (https://www.kevinjjohnston.me) and others who’ve left Canada over the past decades.
They remain on the list since they continue to create well crafted content useful to a Canadian audience.
Below are over sixty outlets and service providers currently replacing the legacy media in Canada. These outlets directly compete with The Globe, the CBC, the Star, the National Post and others within the media ecosystem.
The list also includes a couple of Canadian think-tanks, a couple of service providers, several legacy media outlets pretending to be “new” and some primary source material repositories utilized by legacy media to craft their daily talking points.
Those knowing the lay of the land are better able to critique, correct and provide useful, “actionable” alternatives, whether the intent is to join, co-op or even replace the current corrupt and dying ecosystem.
This list is where we begin the process.
IMPORTANT CANADIAN “NEW” MEDIA OUTLETS
Andy Lee
https://x.com/RealAndyLeeShow.
She still posts on “X,“ but her long-form posts on the Sleeping with Giants page seem to have stalled.
She’s an acknowledged online troll, but her stories, comments and insights are mostly solid and often end up republished, if not cited, in the legacy media.
Useful.
The Atlantic Underground Podcast
https://www.atlanticundergroundpodcast.com.
A longform interview focused program hosted by investigative journalist and automotive “car guy” Chris Smith. The podcast questions “the mainstream narrative” and gives an “alternative,” mostly grounded perspective on current issues.
His best recent pieces include the October 3rd, 2024 Atlantic Podcast on Rumble post, “LAVA How to Play the Game of Life and Survive,” and the September 12th, 2024 Rumble post, “Monsters in the Schools with Nicole Connor.”
Recommended.
BetaKit
Focused around Canadian start-ups and tech innovation, this Toronto based outlet speaks "to the people tracking, financing, and building the next generation of Canadian companies."
It was originally funded with Canadian government money, which gives you an idea how profitable this niche is, if only you use the government approved political slant.
It’s useful, but its more legacy than “new“ media given its funding and bias.
Better Dwelling
A newbie to this list, the self described “Canada's fastest growing real estate blog,” provides surprisingly useful information on government policy and economic activities influencing Canadian real estate markets.
Recent examples include the December 13th, 2024 Better Dwelling post, “Canadian Mortgage Rates Start Climbing As Gov Bond Yields Surge,” which discusses the disconnect between the Federal government and Bank of Canada policy, and the December 11th, 2024 Better Dwelling post, “Bank of Canada Makes Supersized Cut, Fears Immigration Shift Will Slow GDP,” which discusses the perceived relationship between unchecked immigration and economic growth.
Recommended.
Blacklocks Reporter
Pay-walled and professional, the site is an Ottawa-based internet publication covering “Canadian government administration,” mostly by reading publicly available government documents, attending government meeting normally open to the public and reporting on what it finds.
It’s surprising how many useful stories it breaks, and how profitable it has become.
Part of the reason is Blacklock’s strong legal department, which sues government agencies that circulate stories internally without paying what BlackLocks considers to be appropriate subscriber fees (1395804 Ontario Ltd (Blacklock’s Reporter) v Canada (Attorney General)).
These lawsuits have facilitated Blacklocks revenue stream, allowing it to charge bulk subscriptions to government departments interested in learning what their bosses are really doing.
Blacklock's is the only officially “unsubsidized” Canadian-owned news agency accredited by the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery.
This is likely because of Blacklock’s focus on researching government document’s and press releases which, as outlined in the June 20th, 2024 Freedom Forum post, “More on the Concept of Judicial Notice in Canadian Courts,” are accepted in Canadian courts as being factual by definition under the legal concept of “judicial notice.”
Recommended.
Blendr News
Canadian based, Canadian focused news outlet noticeable enough to banned from Instagram (under Bill C-18) but still available on Facebook and YouTube, and new enough not to have been included in last years list.
Best known for its short, under five minute video news pieces on important stories although the service also includes long-form interviews.
Useful for its news aggregation capabilities.
The Breach
Unapologetically leftist in its slant but still firmly convinced it’s “an independent media outlet producing critical journalism to help map a just, viable future,” the site insists that it provides “a platform for voices you won’t often find in the establishment media.”
In reality, it provides “investigations, analysis and video content about the crises of racism, inequality, colonialism, and climate breakdown—and what to do about it,” topics covered in a wide variety of other leftist and legacy publications.
It’s most noteworthy for its annual “transparency reports,” an overview of topics covered, distribution channels, and funding received over the previous year. The 2023-2024 Transparency Report notes that the majority of the 2023-2024 Breach budget of $341,393 came from:
Organizations and “large” donors ($76,590).
Foundations ($46,490).
Government grants and “special measures for journalists” ($32,692).
Government wage subsidies ($21,737).
Unions contributions ($7,880).
C4C funding, essentially one time grants for specific stories ($5,290).
Miscellaneous ($834).
Breach “member sustainers” (likely subscribers) only contributed $149,884 in 2023- 20224, less than 1/2 of the overall $340K budget that year, at least according to the transparency report.
While the site is certainly not recommended, it’s useful for context and for learning about media business issues.
The Bureau
A Substack site compiled by Sam Cooper, a well known legacy media investigative journalist and author of the 2021 book, “Wilful Blindness: How a network of narcos, tycoons and CCP agents infiltrated the West.”
The site is focused on stories about foreign influence over Canadian media and government. It builds on his legacy work at The Province, the Vancouver Sun, Global News and echo’s Canadian-intelligence reports like Project Sidewinder, which argue that foreign spies have infiltrated Canadian institutions.
Cooper left his last legacy media job at Global News in 2023 amidst growing rumor’s from the ruling Liberal’s that he was a shoddy journalist interested mostly in bringing down the current government.
As outlined in the June 7th, 2024 The Maple post, “A Farewell To Sam ‘Scooper’ Cooper, The Spy Agency Microphone,” the “reporter behind many of the shoddy ‘Chinese interference’ stories is leaving Global News as the lawsuits pile up.”
Whatever the truth of the Maple’s allegation, Cooper is still in business and pumping out weekly, sometimes daily stories on important topics.
Recommended.
Calgary Freedom Central
https://www.facebook.com/CalgaryFreedomCentral/.
Sixty-three thousand Facebook followers and a strong Telegram presence gives this alternative news outlet more reach than most local news outlets.
Provides a combination of useful memes, local news and political commentary.
Recommended.
Canadaland
It’s an unusual beast in the current media ecosystem, but owner Jessie Brown has built a media outlet focused around other Canadian media outlets.
It’s leftist and legacy to the core, even if it’d built one of the few successful independent and profitable Canadian media platforms.
It remains what’s its always been, a platform for journalists who always wanted to work at the CBC and want to build out their resume with stories the mother corporation would appreciate.
Useful, but not recommended. Maybe next year.
CanadaPoli
"Good Morning Everyone" is the tagline for this daily, alternative overview of breaking legacy stories from independent media personality Mark Paralovos.
The ongoing censorship Paravolos gets for his perspective is odd, given that he focuses almost entirely on assessing legacy media and building connections between their disparate stories. This is something the legacy media should be doing, but mostly doesn't.
Recommended, and way too often overlooked.
Canadian Dimension
https://canadiandimension.com.
The self-described “longest-standing voice of the left in Canada.”
For more than half-a-century, the publication has provided a forum for “lively and radical debate where red meets green, socialists take on social democrats, Indigenous voices are heard, activists report from every corner of the country, and the latest books and films are critically reviewed.”
In essence, this is a publication for gauging the pulse of NDP social justice warriors.
It’s useful, but not recommended.
Canadian Journalism Collective (CJC)
An interesting organization set-up specifically to administer approximately $100Mln Cdn in Google funding required by the Canadian government under Bill C-18, the Online News Act.
Freedom Forum looked into the CJC in the July19th, 2024 post, “BACK END: Canada's Legacy Media Hates the Canadian Journalism Collective,” and in the November 8th, 2024 post, “Back-END: $100Mln Google Funding from Online News Act Legislation Moving Forward.”
Useful, but not recommended.
Canuck Law
Officially, this is a site for research on Canadian legal/political topics, with citations provided throughout to make validation and “fact checking” easier.
Unofficially, the site provides useful, independently verifiable, legal and political content on a wide variety of political issues. It’s at its most entertaining for the stories on why activist initiated Covid-19 lawsuits mostly fail, but rarely comments on successful freedom focused suits.
Peculiar, unique, biased, but useful.
Caryma Sa'd
https://x.com/CarymaRules/highlights.
Lawyer. journalist. satirist and protest watcher with interesting stories in a variety of areas.
According to the December 9th, 2024 Canadaland post, “Why Almost Everyone Hates Caryma Sa’d:”
Anti-vax protests, freedom convoy protests, anti-trans protests, Israel/Palestine protests, over the last few years she’s captured and posted an archive of protest footage few mainstream outlets have either the time or resources to rival.
Along the way she’s managed to irk the entire political spectrum.
Definitely unique, often offensive but still recommended, if only because of her ongoing fight with the Canadian Anti-Hate Network (CAHN) as outlined most recently in the November 28th, 2024 CAHN post, “Statement on Caryma Sa'd.”
Clyde Do Something
This seven year old Canadian YouTube news channel, created by a BC based auto tech Clyde Nichols and focused around politics and current events who provides a well produced, smooth delivery with a strong “X“ and Instagram social media presence.
It’s a modest success for its ability to say useful things on YouTube, a heavily censored, big tech controlled platform, by sticking to Federal Conservative party talking points.
Recommended.
The Corbett Report
https://www.corbettreport.com.
Canadian born, but Japanese based journalist James Corbett is one of the founders and senior statesmen of the current alternative, or "new" media ecosystem.
Since 2006 his website has been posting the well researched articles and essential videos needed to provide an understanding of our current world.
His long-running "New World Next Week" weekly podcast with Media Monarchy founder James Evan Pilato mixes legacy and new media stories into a context heavy, entertaining and informative feast of knowledge not often accessed by other commentators.
Recommended.
The Counter Signal
Ex-Rebel news reporter Keenan Bexte's latest project combines an angrier style of reporting with a modern, easy to use web interface, suitable for a younger audience reading from their androids and iPhones.
The site is wrapped around short, punchline heavy kicks at government and monetary policy and covers much of the same territory as Bexte’s previous work.
It's sometimes interesting and informative, not as well known as Rebel, but gaining popularity in Alberta.
Useful.
DIGILEAK: News Not Noise
https://www.bitchute.com/channel/OLzfb2oG1iFx/.
This Bitchute based news aggregator, focuses on stories that might not be covered extensively, or at all, by mainstream media outlets, just like most of the other outlets on this list, with a focus on investigative reports, political analysis, and stories about freedom of speech, government transparency, and public policy.
As with other new media outlets, DIGILEAK might be seen by some as a valuable counter-narrative to mainstream media, while others might critique it for potential biases or for promoting stories without sufficient evidence. The reception can vary widely based on one's political views or trust in alternative media.
Beyond his association with Digileak Canada, there's scant information on editor Ken Billings and his personal background, education, previous work experience, or other professional engagements.
Until we know more about DIGILEAK, its editor and its biases, this service is useful, but not recommended.
The Discourse
Another new name on the list, previously ignored because of its content, political connections and structured business model.
But they’ve been around for awhile. While their 2018 fundraiser on FrontFundr doesn’t seem to have panned out on a national scale, the publication continues on with a combination of partnership collaboration with smaller, west coast publications and PR initiatives designed to keep hope alive for an eventual, national rollout.
Former Discourse CEO Erin Millar has moved on to become CEO & Co-founder of Indiegraf and the interim board chair of the Canadian Journalism Collective, the group picked by Google to administer the $100 million collected by the Canadian government under Bill C-18 for Canadian media development.
As for The Discourse, it remains new media with a “left coast” bent, and direct competitors to most of the other news outlets on this list.
Useful for background on Canadian media.
The Dollar Vigilante
Jeff Berwick, Canadian born but now living in Mexico and known as the "Dollar Vigilante," is a "free market individual who protests the government monopoly on money and financial policies such as fractional reserve banking and un-backed fiat currencies."
Berwick provides fascinating financial advice and insights on the forces driving our current age. He puts his best stuff behind a paywall and uses his publicly available content to advertise his consulting services.
In 2015, Berwick started Anarchapulco, an annual anarcho-capitalist festival held yearly in Acapulco, Mexico.
His work is recommended and highly actionable, but often astoundingly and overwhelmingly “batshit crazy” for the uninitiated.
Druthers
Old style, tabloid format print publication focused around provincial and Federal politics, COVID antics and the great reset.
The current monthly print run is around 250,000 and thirteen million newspapers have been sent out to subscribers since December 2020, when the first issue came out.
That makes it the fastest growing newspaper in Canada.
Recommended, and pretty unique.
Free Speech Media
The website of independent Toronto, ON based videographer Mike Bayer, who records others without ever inserting himself into the story; a very traditional media presentation format not often used these days.
While he began covering protest marches in the depths of the great pandemic of 2020 - 2022, Bayer currently focuses on PPC and medical malfeasance news.
Strong Rumble (https://rumble.com/FreeSpeechMedia) and Locals (https://freespeechmedia.locals.com/support) sites help to distribute his content.
Useful.
The Freedom Report
https://www.kevinjjohnston.me.
Kevin J. Johnston, who once called himself “Canada’s most censored man,” has moved off the current events beat to focus on money, tax returns and real estate investments.
He retains his goofy, off-putting but always partisan presentation. It’s just that this perspective is less useful when discussing Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) concerns and the details of moving disgruntled Canadians to warmer, more freedom loving climates.
Certainly Johnston provides an interesting and maybe even a useful perspective and we all got to make a living.
It’s just that the Freedom Report is no longer really a new media outlet.
It’s still useful.
Global Research
https://www.globalresearch.ca.
Edited by Michel Chossudovsky, a Canadian economist and author at the University of Ottawa based Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG), the site is an “independent, registered non-profit research and media organization” based in Montreal, PQ.
It publishes news articles, commentary, background research and analysis on a broad range of social, political, economic, cultural, strategic and environmental issues.
It's a little more academic than most of the sites on this list, but also a good source of independent, useful and well referenced knowledge on “conspiracy culture.”
Useful.
Ground News
Top news stories aggregated and tracked automatically according to topic, source and legacy media “bias,” makes Ground News a platform “that makes it easy to compare news sources, read between the lines of media bias and break free from algorithms.”
Officially, anyway. Unofficially, at least it acknowledges the various biases in journalism and attempts to track them.
If only the developers would let the customers took at the algorithms and assumptions guiding those assessments. Maybe those algorithms and assumptions could even be “open sourced.”
Until that happens, this site is useful, but not recommended.
The Hill Times
The gutless, Ottawa based consensus publication of record for Federal government mandarins and the Canadian political class.
As outlined in the October 10th, 2024 Rebel News post, “Liberal-appointed senator apologizes for censoring Conservative op-ed,” the Hill Times has complied with “request to edit,” editorials from Canadian politicians, even when the original editorial “did not involve any libel or misstatement of facts” and was written by an acknowledged political opponent of the sitting government.
You can’t get more “gutless” than that.
Still, its useful, if you want to know the who, the when, the where and the why of what Canada’s ruling class wants you to think.
The Hub
It calls itself “a not-for-profit digital news outlet committed to independent analysis and spirited debate about Canada’s past, present and future.” Rudyard Griffiths is listed as the publisher.
But according to Wikipedia, Griffiths has also been:
… a columnist at the National Post, Toronto Star and The Hub and a television anchor on CTV News Channel and the Business News Network.
He is a senior fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy where he chairs the Ontario 360 research initiative.
In essence, the Hub is stealth legacy media pretending to be “independent” and new.
It’s not recommended, but it’s useful as a reminder of the methods the legacy uses to redirect and confuse public opinion.
The Iron Will Report
Regular long form interviews and short news updates from ‘Iron“ Will Dove, an independent reporter affiliated with the Canada Strong and Free activist network, providing stories focused around “The Truth That Mainstream Media Won’t Tell You.”
The polished, professional and sometimes paywalled reporting focuses on Covid malfeasance, government overreach and protecting individual rights.
The “activist“ affiliation generates funding and a mailing list to help distribute content and the overall production values are getting better.
In essence, “Iron Will” provides a strong perspective supported by a useful business model.
Recommended.
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
https://www.jordanbpeterson.com.
One of Canada’s best known, most respected but also most often reviled of independent public commentators. Its just a damn shame that Peterson has left Canada for warmer climes.
According to the December 13th, 2024 Global News post, “Jordan Peterson says he’s left Canada and moved to the U.S.,” the prolific author and public speaker cited his ongoing feud with the College of Psychologists of Ontario, as well as a bill targeting hate speech (Bill C-63, the so called “Online Harms Act“) as being among the key reasons to leave his home country.
Peterson is best known for his YouTube videos criticizing the 2015 Federal Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code (Bill C-16), and his 2018 self-help book “12 Rules of Life: An Antidote to Chaos.”
He is partnered with US based new media company The Daily Wire in a deal which includes the distribution rights to Peterson's video and podcast library. In his spare time, he’s Chancellor of Savannah GA based Ralston College.
Some consider him to be “controlled opposition.” But, if true, he’s certainly left the reservation.
His work is useful, and the obvious pain in his voice is indicative of the trauma imposed by his opponents.
Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson
BC based commentator/activist Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson was the former co-host of The 700 Club Canada, and author of Relentless Redemption before moving to her own platform and embracing conservative advocacy.
She has a large following focused around long-form, in-depth interviews on traditional religious, family and political issues, but seems to have had some recent trouble with her distribution network.
As outlined in the November 24th, 2024 The Roys Report post, “Canadian Broadcaster Pulls Program from Daystar Due to ‘Ethical Deficits’,” Tyler Thompson has removed her program from its distributor Daystar Canada, a 24/7 Bible-based, Gospel programming focused broadcast TV Network, over “numerous ethical deficits” related to charges from former Daystar Vice President Jonathan Lamb and his wife, Suzy, who “claim that Jonathan’s mother, Daystar President Joni Lamb, covered up the abuse of their daughter by a family member.”
She’s well respected in conservative circles and seems to be, at least attempting to live by her principals.
Recommended. Hopefully, she’ll find a new distribution network soon.
Librti.com
A "community of freedom loving Canadians who have taken a stand against the growing corruption that threatens our lives," originally set up as an uncensored, politically friendly alternative to Facebook.
However, growth seems to have stalled and the site is slowly losing stream as people move to Telegram, Rumble and newer distribution sites.
But its still active and most notable for co-owner Odessa Orlewicz, her Librti Talks podcast and her social media posts on “X,“ which remain influential even as Librti declines.
Useful.
Life Site News
A non-profit internet based aggregator dedicated to issues of "culture, life, and family," launched in September 1997 by the Hamilton, Ontario based Campaign Life Coalition (CLC).
It’s a site focused around morality from on organized religious perspectives and is quite typical of these types of media outlets.
But every once in awhile, in pieces like the December 23rd, 2024 post, “Gov’t memo admits Canadians are shifting to independent news due to distrust of media, not Russian ‘bots,’” the site publishes content suitable for a wider audience.
Useful.
The Logic
Canada's government funded (mostly) technology publication of record, focused around the business issues surrounding the officially recognized "innovation ecosystem," the various types of private and public sector investors involved, the green technologies being funded and the AI developers promoted as being “the next big thing.”
It’s another one of those useful websites telling people what the Liberal government is attempting to accomplish and how they intend to go about it.
It’s useful but not a recommended publication, since the Federal governments focus is so often at odds with reality.
The Mackenzie Institute
https://mackenzieinstitute.com.
It's weird how some of the best sources of nuanced, independent news in Canada are the 100 or so privately funded, Canadian based "think tanks" obsessed with developing funding narratives designed to influence political party activities.
The Toronto, Ontario based Mackenzie Institute, founded in 1984 to focus on geopolitical security matters, is considered one of the better examples. It publishes online research papers on a wide variety of geopolitical security matters, with a focus on terrorism, political extremism, warfare, organized crime and the Ukraine.
It's also a registered charity with a conservative bias. In 2019, it was ranked as the 36th best think tank in Canada and Mexico by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program at the University of Pennsylvania.
Useful.
Michael Geist
Well respected blog on the internet, free speech and intellectual property law written by Michael Geist, a Canadian academic, and the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-Commerce Law at the University of Ottawa.
Geist writes syndicated columns for some of Canada's largest newspapers, including the Globe and Mail, the Ottawa Citizen and the Toronto Star.
Useful.
New Media Canada
Another mostly government supported group pretending be a media publication/lobby group representing “new“ media interests, New Media Canada bills itself as “the national association of the Canadian news media industry, representing hundreds of members in every province and territory.”
It was established in 2016 through the merger of the Canadian Newspaper Association and the Canadian Community Newspapers Association.
New Media Canada acts as an advocate to promote its members concerns to government in areas of “taxation, employment standards, recycling, Canada Post, freedom of information, the Canada Periodical Fund, privacy and copyright.”
The real secret of its unacknowledged biases is in the listing of the board of directors, which includes representatives from Torstar Corporation, the Globe and Mail, Glacier Media, La Liberté and most of the other Canadian legacy newspaper outlets still in existence.
Its useful, essentially a lobby group which promotes legacy media instead of new media, but not recommended.
The News Forum
This traditionally structured Canadian based online network with multiple programs wrapped around boring but intellectual sounding hosts using a “talking heads format” and mandated to provide “politically balanced domestic and international perspectives."
It’s well funded by the Liberty Coalition Canada, organized by several clergies in January 2021 as a "formalization of activity to externalize and assert the ideas presented in the Niagara Declaration."
Almost everyone in this network wears suits, unusual for Canada’s new media, and looks legacy media affluent, only more stylish. The sponsorship is mostly provided by fund managers, resource companies and banks, the sort of traditional groups once associated with public television.
It’s just a damn shame how the best funded “independent“ media outlets often turn out to be the most inoffensive and least effective. Anyone looking to know the truth about the Niagara Declaration (or anything else), won’t learn this from the News Forum.
Useful, but mostly bland like pabulum.
NORTHAMERICANNEWS01
https://rumble.com/user/NORTHAMERICANNEWS01.
With skilled, but mostly unknown commentators and a lot of repurposed third party content, this Rumble based content provider provides professional perspectives that often contrast with mainstream media narratives.
It’s supported by well crafted production values and growing, professional distribution channels. But it’s an opaque news service. No one really knows who runs it or its underlying funding, perspectives and constraints.
Until we know more, this news service is useful, but not recommended.
Northern Perspective
https://northernperspective.ca/about/.
“Cipher” and “Fox” provide commentary on Canadian political issues, government corruption, election interference, and other significant topics impacting Canadian society.
Rumour has it that “Cypher,” is a Canadian government bureaucrat fired for his participation on the show. More recently, and as outlined in the December 20th, 2024 Northern Perspective post, “CBC Files Multiple COPYRIGHT CLAIMS Against Our Channel – We’re FIGHTING BACK!,” another government agency has filed copyright claims against the show for recent stories.
Whatever the truth of the matter, the co-hosts are professional, affable, knowledgeable and quite competent discussing government policies, perspectives, and malfeasance.
It should be supported and is recommended.
OpenMedia.org
A “community-driven” advocacy organization focused on keeping the Internet open, affordable, and surveillance-free. It operates as a civic engagement platform to educate, engage, and empower Internet users to advance digital rights around the world.
Useful and actionable news and advocacy on government legislation related to the internet.
The Opposition with Dan Knight
Dan Knight is a former amateur MMA champion, independent journalist and political commentator who focuses on Federal government politics and the failures of the current Justin Trudeau regime.
Back in the day, the sorts of stories Knight favors would be mainstream and frontpage in national newspapers.
But today, they’re alternative, suppressed and quietly whispered “conspiracy theories,” mostly because of the huge media subsidies provided by Canada’s Department of Heritage to legacy media outlets willing to service the Federal government’s agenda.
Recommended.
Police on Guard
This group of active duty and retired police officers who originally came together to protest unconstitutional Public Health orders instituted during the great pandemic of 2020 - 2022 is slowly morphing into a repository of information on the current Canadian legal and political landscape.
The site provides useful content and interviews focused around law and legislation presented in a fair and timely manner.
While not exceptional, the content presented is actionable and competently presented.
Therefore, its useful.
Policy Options
https://policyoptions.irpp.org.
Another traditional think-tank, slowly turning itself into a news service focused around government policy.
The publication is the house organ for the Montreal PQ based Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP) which focuses on questions of "Canadian federalism, the social safety net for working-age adults, unlocking demand for Canadian innovation, skills development and adult learning, and the challenges of an aging population."
It’s very Liberal-centric and seems to consider more government to be the solution to almost every problem.
While its not recommended, it's another one of those outlets used for learning about upcoming initiatives favored by our current Ottawa based mandarins.
Useful.
Press For Truth
The home of well known BC based alternative journalist Dan Dix.
While often banned and dismissed as a "conspiracy theorist," Dix is rarely equaled for his independent coverage of small stories illustrating larger issues.
Recommended.
Quick Dick McDick
https://www.youtube.com/c/QuickDickMcDick.
With a tagline of “If you like to laugh and cannot be easily offended, you had better get watching,” you just know its got to be good.
It’s essentially a farmer with a fluffy beard hosting plenty of short vignettes chock full of useful things to say about life, leftists, politics, technology and todays culture.
It’s not for the week of heart, but its recommended nonetheless.
Rabble
This might be where leftist writers go to die, after they've got their book deal and retired from the Toronto Star. There's a union focus to the stories, plus lot of pining for the good old days when "solidarity forever" actually meant something.
But the site is still mostly funded by its readers, even after twenty years, doesn't believe in paywalls and at least attempts to act like a real media outlet every once in awhile.
It's another one of those publications where you can sometimes learn something, but only if you can stomach the overt bias of big corporations feeding climate change stories to the masses using conflicted ex-union and indigenous focused propagandists.
In essence, while its not recommended, its necessary.
Rebel News
Rebel is one of the few media organizations in Canada currently doing original work on location. Domestic and international correspondents cover worldwide antigovernmental protests and serve as a platform for small businesses and individuals fighting fines related to lock downs and government malfeasance.
Rebel also produces several podcasts it distributes through Spotify and other services as a supplement to its main coverage. These include The Gunn Show, hosted by Sheila Gunn Reid and the The Ezra Levant Show, hosted by Rebel owner Ezra Levant.
Rebel correspondents, including owner Levant and regular correspondent David Menzies are often restricted from accessing government documents or arrested and end up in court to defend their free speech rights, primarily because Canada’s Federal government does not consider Rebel to be a qualified Canadian journalism organization (QCJOs) as defined by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
Rebel News is still recommended, if only for its independent work in the field, no matter what the Trudeau Liberals might think.
Research Money
https://researchmoneyinc.com/home.
Southern Ontario based In-depth reports and analysis on the who, what and how of Canada's corporate and government funded science, technology and innovation community.
Useful, academically focused content organized by Jeffrey Crelinsten, who specializes in science and technology communications and policy.
Crelinsten also owns the Impact Group, and has worked as a consultant to firms, government agencies and associations, on strategic planning and communications projects.
So the publication is useful, but not recommended.
The Revolving Door
https://broadcastdialogue.com/category/revolving-door/.
Published by Broadcast Dialogue, a self described "voice of Canada’s broadcast industry since 1992," the briefing is a weekly compilation of hiring and firing within the senior levels of Canada’s legacy media.
It’s self aware, useful reading for new media executives looking to understand the structure and weaknesses of the system they hope to one day either join, co-opt or replace.
But it’s not recommended. Even the name suggests impermanence.
Right Edition News
Fronted by an old school classical faced reporter with more than a passing resemblance to Kolchak: The Night Stalker.
The site started out as a gun rights advocacy platform but now focuses on a wide range of alternative and conservative topics.
Useful.
The Shadoe Davis Show
Former Winnipeg, Manitoba based CJOB morning man, Shadoe Davis now talks about Covid-19, the great reset, the freedom movement and other interesting topics on Facebook and other online distribution channels.
It’s a fascinating self-portrait of an old school AM morning show professional in the midst of his transformation into a new media rebel.
Recommended.
The Shaun Newman Podcast
shaunnewmanpodcast.substack.com.
A longform interview program with working class roots providing discussions on “faith, family, Canadian life & topics that divide humanity,“ with a wide variety of guests.
Newman is perhaps the closest Canadian equivalency to American ‘new media‘ podcasters like Joe Rogan and Tucker Carlson.
New to this list, although widely known out west with 2.5 million viewers on Spotify, excellent social media distribution on Rumble, Apple, “X,“ Facebook and YouTube plus regular in-person speaking engagements to promote audience participation, business collaborations and community connections.
Recommended.
Spencer Fernando
Another Toronto based, old school journalist building himself an independent platform currently focused around Canadian military preparedness on Federal politics.
Useful, but nondescript and maybe a little bland.
Toronto99 Independent Media
Toronto, Ontario based conservative activist/journalist Mark Slapinski, previously involved in housing-rights advocacy and other social media causes, launched Toronto99 in early 2021 in order to "feature stories and angles not properly represented elsewhere," according to his website.
It's "not affiliated with any political parties or special interest groups," but does generally favor a conservative Canadian agenda, with political stories on “Premier Smith,” “Culture Wars,” “Trudeau Incompetence,” “Poilievre 2025” and “MSM Fact Check” highlighted.
It’s useful, but the stories lack context and connection. Everything is a little bland and focused around covering the same stories written the same way as everyone else.
Troy Media
Founded in 2005, Troy Media is an editorial content provider for Canadian legacy, print and online media outlets.
Traditional media outlets license Troy Media content supplied by a variety of columnists, contributors and freelancers for their own needs via a network of affiliate, associate and partner websites. The content is distributed to national media outlets through their subscriber system.
It’s the sort of distribution network pioneered by organizations like the Associated Press and the Canadian Press. It’s also something which new media outlets might want to collaborate on and consider.
Useful, at least from a business perspective.
Dr. Trozzi's Website
Ex-Ontario ER physician Dr. Mark Trozzi speaks outs on issues relating to public health.
The site contains a collection of medicine and health related articles and videos compiled by Trozzi, a emergency room veteran of twenty-seven years experience who worked on the front lines during the early months of the pandemic, but lost his license to practice medicine as a result of disagreements with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) over Covid-19 treatment protocols.
According to the March 12th, 2024 Wise Health Law post, “Conduct During the COVID-19 Pandemic Results in License Revocation,” Dr. Trozzi promoted:
non-scientific and baseless conspiracy theories about COVID-19, cast doubt on the motives of public health officials around preventative measures, and discouraged adherence to public health interventions.
Curiously enough, most of Trozzi’s “conspiracy theories,” eventually turned out to be true and he continues to make the case for changing public health policies in his current role.
Trozzi is active in a number of health advocacy organizations, including Take Action Canada and the World Council for Health.
Useful, but currently being updated. Maybe next week, when the new site roles out, Dr. Trozzi’s website will be recommended.
True North
A well funded, independent media site affiliated with the True North Centre for Public Policy (a registered Canadian charity) and the True North Initiative, a non-profit think tank.
True North was founded by Candice Malcolm, a best-selling author, investigative journalist and syndicated columnist married to Kaz Nejatian, the current COO of Ottawa, Ontario based online retailer Shopify and a former staffer for ex-United Conservative Party leader Jason Kenney.
The site is perhaps best known for the Andrew Lawton Show, a well produced, widely distributed long form interview vid-cast which positions itself as being opposed to Liberal government policies. True North also produces the The Candice Malcolm Show.
But with all the money and connections available to True North, its disappointing that the publication doesn’t go on location more often or take as many chances with its coverage.
Perhaps it’s heeded the lessons learned from Rebel News, a direct competitor often punished by the Federal government for covering too many of the wrong topics in the wrong way.
Useful, but not recommended.
TFM Report
Jody Ledgerwood and Cris Vleck expose lies, corruption and political malfeasance from a Canadian perspective live, every Monday and Thursday with a variety of guests and more than a little sass.
Recommended for its basic but well produced, humorous and sometimes inciteful commentary.
University Affairs
https://www.universityaffairs.ca.
The collapse of the social justice narrative has hit universities especially hard.
That’s why last years self described "most authoritative" source of information on Canada’s post-secondary community now focuses on feelings (the December 18th, 2024 post, “How the climate crisis makes students feel“), toys (the December 20th, 2024 post, “U of T prof’s animatronic puppets are inspiring kids to use tech as a tool for creativity“) and gender equity (the November 28th, 2024 post, “Take part in UA’s gender equity survey – deadline extended“).
It’s still useful for the daily “Media Scan” of stories of interest to academics. But otherwise, the site is an ongoing reminder of how far the once mighty have fallen.
Very-Opinionated.com
What was once the "Very Opinionated Kate Wand Show" on YouTube has morphed into a far more mellow Substack page focused on “on current events, liberty, philosophy, and politics” and Wand’s recent relocation to Mexico.
A useful, but a slower and more nuanced read when compared to some of Wand’s earlier work.
Viva Frei
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzGiDDKdphJ0GFvEd82WfYQ.
David Freiheit, a Montreal PQ based lawyer now living in Florida and working under the name “Viva Frei,” provides entertaining and actionable perspectives on Canadian and international legal/political issues.
His livestreams with US based criminal tax attorney Robert Barnes are informative and highly regarded.
Freiheit also provides excellent commentary on the legality and morality of stories currently being covered by legacy outlets across Canada and the US. His more controversial posts are online at Rumble.
Recommended.
The Western Standard
https://www.westernstandard.news.
An online news and opinion platform created in October 2019 under the ownership of the Western Standard New Media Corporation. In 2021 it underwent a significant expansion opening bureaus in Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Regina and Winnipeg.
The publication considers itself a successor to the Alberta Report (a popular Alberta based conservative focused magazine published from the 1970's until 2003) and is one of the larger independent media platforms in Canada.
Useful for its western perspective, its professionalism and its independence from Eastern Canadian based legacy media. If only it would sent its reporters out into the field more often.
Winnipeg Alternative Media (WAM)
A free speech platform where "no topic is off limits and no voice is excluded," It’s also one of the oldest organizations on this list.
Since 2013 this group, led by local videographer Todd McDougal, has acted as a grassroots volunteer based organization focused around honest reporting and citizen journalism.
Useful.
If you know a news group or independent reporter who should be noted in this list, please send an email to Freedom Forum News editor Chuck Black at chuck.black@protonmail.com.
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