National

GoFundMe called to Commons committee

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 03 Feb, 2022 03:28 PM

OTTAWA - A parliamentary committee has called on GoFundMe representatives to testify about how it ensures that money raised on its platform isn’t used to promote hate, such as antisemitism and white supremacy.

New Democrat MP Alistair MacGregor won the unanimous approval today of the House of Commons public safety committee to invite representatives from the crowdfunding website to answer questions about its security measures to ensure its funds are not used to promote extremism.

GoFundMe has been used to raise more than $10 million to support the anti-vaccine mandate protesters that have brought downtown Ottawa to a standstill for close to a week.

GoFundMe said Wednesday it was pausing and reviewing the fundraising campaign to ensure it complies with its terms of service, which stipulate money raised can't be used to support hate, violence, harassment and bullying, among other anti-social behaviours.

MacGregor says he brought the motion forward because he was concerned by a statement by Ottawa police the previous day that said a "significant element" from the United States had been involved in funding the Canadian protest.

MacGregor says Canadian MPs need to subject GoFundMe to a greater examination about the anonymous nature of its donors, especially if they are in foreign countries.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Freeland asked to scrap carbon capture tax credit

More than 400 Canadian climate scientists and other academics are pleading with Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland to scrap her plan to create a tax credit for companies that build carbon capture and storage facilities. Freeland floated the idea of the tax credit in last year's federal budget and consultations to design it ended just before Christmas.

Freeland asked to scrap carbon capture tax credit

Canada Post seeking clarification on mask policy

Canada Post says it is seeking "clarification" from the federal government about face masks after drawing criticism for refusing to let employees bring their own N95 masks to work. The Crown corporation earlier this week said employees had to use a Canada Post-issued cloth mask or disposable medical mask, or they would be sent home.

Canada Post seeking clarification on mask policy

Four people were hospitalized in three separate stabbings on the Downtown Eastside yesterday.

In a statement, Supt. Duncan Pound of B.C.'s anti-gang squad says its investigations into the shootings in Langley, Surrey and Coquitlam — in which one person was killed and the bystanders were hurt — indicate they appear to be connected to the drug trade.

Four people were hospitalized in three separate stabbings on the Downtown Eastside yesterday.

Russia cyber warning emerges amid Ukraine crisis

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, a branch of the Communications Security Establishment, said it was "aware of foreign cyber threat activities, including by Russian-backed actors, to target Canadian critical infrastructure network operators, their operational and information technology."

Russia cyber warning emerges amid Ukraine crisis

Canadian troops in Latvia at 'high readiness'

In an interview with The Canadian Press, Lt.-Col. Dan Richel says his 1,000-strong unit, which includes about 350 Canadian soldiers, is trained and equipped to help defend Latvian territory in the event of an attack.

Canadian troops in Latvia at 'high readiness'

Man shot in Guildford residence

On January 20, 2022, at 1:44 a.m., Surrey RCMP responded to the report of a man shot inside a residence in the 8700-block of 152 Street. Police arrived on scene and located a man suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.