Anyone who's remotely inclined toward critical thought most likely dismisses the ramblings of a divisive, self-proclaimed pundit like Ezra Levant without a second thought.
Levant, who is no stranger to losing libel suits and apologizing after being exposed for defamation, is known to stir controversy. That's basically his calling card.
As a defendant during a libel suit in 2014, he even testified that he is a pundit and commentator, not a reporter — as though somehow that would make it acceptable to conjure up unsubstantiated claims. But speaking under oath means little for someone to whom the truth means less than creating controversy for the sake of attention.
Given Levant's history as an unscrupulous and manipulative attention-seeker, it's rather surprising Rachel Notley's NDP government played right into his antics by banning him and his cohorts from provincial media events under the excuse they aren't actually journalists. While Levant was shouting foul at the top of his lungs on the public stage and threatening to sue the government, chances are he was privately celebrating the priceless free publicity present the government dropped right in his lap.
Following significant public backlash surrounding the issue of press freedom, the government said it made a mistake and reversed its decision, but added that it plans to review its media policies.
Had the government simply ignored him, no one would have given a care in the world and Levant never would have made any headlines. Instead, Notley's NDP made a martyr out of him.
There's no doubt that freedom of press is a major part of a democratic society's foundation. That lesson should have been made crystal clear by the former government's tight and restrictive control over the media, which often could only ask a limited number of screened questions, if any.
But perhaps we should equally value accountability among journalists to represent the news as objectively as possible without slanting — or outright making up — facts.
What's mostly fascinating in this whole debacle is Levant's willingness to call foul on Notley's NDP while he remained utterly silent for years on the former Harper Conservatives' tendency to gag public servants, shut down access for journalists and maintain a tight control over questions asked at news conferences.
That alone speaks volumes about Levant's level of integrity, or rather lack thereof. It is apparently quite all right if the party he supports suppresses freedom of the press, just not if it's a government he is opposed to.
Still, despite his glaringly obvious bias, Levant was not necessarily wrong to trumpet the cause of freedom of press, even if it was self-serving.
Recognizing that defining what a journalist is does not fall under its mandate was mainly what led the Alberta government to reverse its decision to ban his “journalistic” news outlet, The Rebel, from provincial media lockups and press events.
But that doesn't mean anyone has to pay him or his staff any attention.
Simon Ducatel is the editor of the Sundre Round Up.
