They lie, then call you a liar. That is not debate—it is manipulation. And worst of all, it is working.
And it is spreading—fueled by fear, anger, and a deliberate rejection of truth. Across Alberta’s pro-separation movement, truth has become optional—but outrage is mandatory. They flood the zone with garbage, then scream “misinformation!” the moment someone pushes back. It is not just hypocritical. It is dangerous.
The Alberta separatist movement, heavily influenced by American-style right-wing politics, has become both the largest source of misinformation and the fastest to discredit opposing views as “fake.” This double standard makes real debate almost impossible and threatens informed democratic decision-making. To fight back, progressives need to understand the game, call it out, and give voters tools to spot the scam.
To protect our democracy and national unity, we must learn how to recognize, reject, and fight back against this dangerous pattern.
How It Started: From Trump’s “Fake News” to Alberta’s Fake Crisis
Donald Trump did not invent lying in politics. But he made it a brand. During the 2016 U.S. election, Trump repeatedly called any media outlet that criticized him “fake news.” At first, it seemed laughable. But it caught on. He trained millions of people to reject facts they did not like by calling them lies.
This strategy gave birth to a new political weapon: label everything inconvenient as misinformation. It was not about correcting falsehoods—it was about silencing criticism. Trump’s followers learned to trust feelings over facts. Truth became subjective.
Fast forward to Alberta. Separatists took that same playbook and added their own twist. Any economic report that challenges their dream of a wealthy independent Alberta? “Misinformation.” Any media coverage showing the risks of separation? “Fake news.” Even peer-reviewed studies from Alberta-based economists get dismissed as part of some “Ottawa conspiracy.”
This playbook was on full display in a recent Twitter exchange. A pro-separation lawyer claimed Pfizer’s own “Table 14” proved the COVID vaccine was deadlier to kids than the virus. His challenge? “Look it up.” So we did. The actual table showed children aged 2–4 had a stronger immune response than young adults. When faced with the truth, he mocked the source, ignored the data, and called us the misinformation. That is not debate—it is deflection.
That’s the trick: spread a lie, get caught, and then smear the truth as propaganda and "misinformation". It is not just dishonest—it is designed to make people give up on knowing what’s real. And for movements built on fantasy economics and grievance politics, confusion is the goal.
It is dishonest and intellectually lazy. Worst of all, it works.
The Lie Factory: Where Misinformation Comes From
Let us be clear: pro-separation voices are not just spinning the truth—they are breaking it.
Here are just a few of their greatest hits:
· “Equalization steals Alberta’s money.” (Nope. Equalization is federally collected and shared. Provinces don’t cut cheques.)
· “Ottawa is the reason Alberta’s economy is suffering.” (Wrong. Global oil prices and market access are the bigger reasons.)
· “If we separate, corporations will flood in and taxes will drop.” (Baseless. Companies want stability, not uncertainty.)
The strategy is to keep saying these lies louder and more often than the truth can catch up. Repetition breeds belief. The goal is not to convince the skeptics—it is to confuse the casual observer and harden the believers.
Even worse, when someone dares to challenge them—with facts, research, or basic logic—they immediately label it as “misinformation.” That shuts down the conversation. It creates an environment where only their story is allowed. That’s not free speech. That’s propaganda.
The Gaslight Effect: Why Lies Are So Hard to Fight
So why is this tactic so effective?
Because fighting lies is harder than telling them. Facts are complicated. Misinformation is simple. Add a bit of anger or fear, and it spreads like wildfire. People are more likely to share something that sparks emotion than something that demands critical thinking.
To make it worse, many people struggle to understand the difference between correlation and causation. Here’s what that means:
· Correlation means two things happen at the same time.
· Causation means one thing causes the other.
There’s a strong correlation between foot size and reading ability. Why? Adults have bigger feet and can read. Babies have tiny feet and can’t. But foot size doesn’t cause literacy—age does.
Example: Alberta’s economy grew during Stephen Harper’s time as Prime Minister. Some claim his leadership caused that growth. But the real driver was sky-high global oil prices—not federal policy. Correlation, not causation.
Separatists abuse this confusion all the time. They point to good times in the past and say, “See? We don’t need Canada.” But that is cherry-picking. It is not analysis. It is marketing.
And when someone tries to explain the real cause? They shout: “More misinformation!”
The Hypocrisy of the “Misinformation” Label
Here is the twisted irony: the people spreading the most falsehoods are the ones screaming the loudest about misinformation. It is the political version of the arsonist blaming the firefighter for the blaze.
They do not want truth. They want control of the narrative. And if that means calling respected economists, professors, and journalists liars? So be it.
What makes this worse is that the platforms—Facebook, X, YouTube—do not stop them. The algorithms reward outrage. There is no penalty for being wrong. But there is plenty of reward for going viral. So the lies keep coming.
And the average person? They are left confused, angry, and unsure who to trust.
Fighting Back: Three Strategies for Progressives
This is not a real debate—it is a disinformation war. The goal is not to win with better ideas, but to drown the truth in noise and confusion. Arguing with facts alone is not enough when the other side is flooding the zone with lies. Progressives need to stop reacting and start setting the terms. It is time to fight smarter, not just harder.
1. Reclaim the Word “Misinformation” by Being Precise
Do not throw the word around like they do. Use it only when it fits—and back it up with evidence. Then say why it matters. Point to sources. Offer links. Be calm, but clear. That builds credibility.
2. Teach the Trick: Name the Strategy Out Loud
When they lie, explain the pattern. Call out the tactic as it’s happening:
“They’re trying to discredit the truth by calling it ‘misinformation.’ It’s what Trump did. Do not fall for it.”
The moment people recognize the strategy, it loses power.
3. Make Truth Easy to Share
Create content that is clear, emotional, and easy to repeat. Use short videos, graphics, and quotes. Facts are important, but delivery matters more. Be honest—but be sharp. Punch back with reason and rhythm.
Final Word: Don’t Buy the Bull Shit
The next time someone calls a well-researched article “fake news,” stop and ask: Why do they want me to ignore it?
The people shouting “misinformation” the loudest are often the ones most desperate to hide the truth. And the truth is this: Alberta is stronger in Canada. The separatist fantasy is built on economic illusions, angry slogans, and American-style political games. Alberta deserves better.
You do not have to play along.
Think for yourself. Ask questions. Check sources. And never let the loudest liar in the room decide what is true.