The Media Accountability Project  

Background

In the summer of 2024, Gaza solidarity encampments were established worldwide on university campuses. Beginning in the US, media attention was focused sharply on the actions and demands of students. In Canada, the McGill University site was among the most discussed by traditional and social media platforms. This was likely due to McGill’s reputation and the protesters' success in delaying the school’s efforts to dismantle the camp. The McGill encampment lasted from April 27, 2024 to July 10, 2024, when it was demolished by a private security firm hired by McGill’s administration and aided by Montreal police.

Across Canada, conspiracy theories about the encampment, namely accusing its participants and supporters of being funded by Iran, were rampant. The National Post and other PostMedia outlets regularly reported that the McGill University encampment was supported, in part, by Iran as part of a foreign interference campaign. In traditional media, talk radio and opinion columns were essential in promoting these narratives. Talk radio and op-eds are not subject to typical journalist standards and can perpetuate baseless claims without meaningful professional consequences.

"Given the political climate surrounding the summer student encampments across Canadian universities, it is highly likely that opponents of these movements, including politicians like Poilievre, will seize upon this report to discredit and dismiss the entirety student-led initiative moving forward. I genuinely hope that by sharing our findings with the Toronto Star, we can try to keep political discourse in Canada somewhat grounded in facts rather than through unverified allegations that have everyone running around with digital pitchforks online."