(Get Dean Blundell’s content early at deanblundell.substack.com)

Canadian law enforcement has issued a stark warning: a massive, coordinated disinformation campaign is being unleashed against Mark Carney, the former Bank of Canada governor and a rising political star. This attack isn’t random—it’s part of an orchestrated effort by Russian-affiliated networks, Trump-aligned forces, and radical right-wing operatives who see Carney as a direct threat to their authoritarian ambitions. With Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives collapsing in the polls, the global far-right movement is going into overdrive to destroy the man poised to defeat them.

The Fake News Industry Goes to Work: Rebel News and the Epstein Smear

At the center of this operation is Rebel News, the Canadian far-right propaganda outlet notorious for its paid disinformation campaigns. Known for its history of spreading conspiracy theories, Islamophobia, and climate change denial, Rebel News has now pivoted to its latest target: Mark Carney. Their newest fabrication attempts to tie Carney to Jeffrey Epstein, using the same playbook of guilt-by-association tactics that the alt-right used against political figures like Hillary Clinton and Justin Trudeau.

Despite no legitimate evidence linking Carney to Epstein, Rebel News has churned out misleading articles, manipulated AI photos, and deceptive video content designed to plant the idea in the minds of right-wing audiences. The purpose is clear: flood social media with the smear, rely on echo chambers to amplify it and let Poilievre’s supporters do the rest.

This is how modern disinformation works—not by proving anything, but by seeding doubt, weaponizing paranoia, and repeating the lie until it feels like truth.

Attacking Carney’s Family: The Trump-Putin-Poilievre Playbook

Beyond targeting Carney himself, the disinformation campaign has set its sights on his family—especially his transgender son. International media outlets aligned with Russia, Trump, and conservative religious lobby groups have begun a coordinated effort to attack Carney’s son in a bid to stir up transphobic outrage and weaponize the culture war.

Far-right influencers and political operatives have begun circulating doctored images, false claims about Carney’s parenting, and outright fabrications suggesting that Carney is part of a “globalist elite conspiracy” to push “radical gender ideology.” This is no different from the tactics used in the United States, where the far-right has repeatedly manufactured moral panics around LGBTQ+ issues to mobilize their base.

Who’s Amplifying the Lies? Enter Melissa Lantsman and Conservative Operatives

With the Conservative Party cratering in the polls, desperation has set in. Key figures within Poilievre’s team, including Melissa Lantsman, have started amplifying the false narratives, retweeting dubious sources, and dog-whistling to far-right networks. The strategy is simple: lean into the disinformation, give it legitimacy, and let the right-wing media ecosystem spread it further.

This mirrors the Trump model—weaponizing conspiracy theories, laundering them through pseudo-legitimate sources, and forcing mainstream media to “both sides” the debate. Poilievre’s Conservatives aren’t just passively benefiting from this campaign but actively engaged in it.

Why Carney is the Target: The Threat to the Global Authoritarian Coup

Mark Carney represents everything the global far-right fears: a competent, widely respected, centrist leader who can appeal to moderates, progressives, and even disillusioned conservatives. His potential rise to power threatens not just Pierre Poilievre’s aspirations but the broader authoritarian project that Trump, Putin, and their allies are pushing worldwide.

Carney’s lead in the polls signals a rejection of the extremist playbook that Poilievre and his backers have embraced. This is why they are pulling out all the stops—attacking him, his family, and his integrity in a desperate bid to prevent his political ascension.

The Bigger Picture: The War on Truth and Democracy

This campaign against Carney isn’t an isolated event; it’s part of a larger war on democracy. The same forces that propelled Brexit, Trump’s Big Lie, and Russia’s disinformation warfare are now being deployed in Canada. The objective is clear: undermine trust in institutions, delegitimize strong leaders, and create enough chaos to keep authoritarian-friendly politicians in power.

The question now is: Will Canadians see through the lies? Will mainstream media resist the onslaught of disinformation, or will they fall into the trap of amplifying it under the guise of “covering both sides”? The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the battle for truth has never been more urgent.