CTV hires TikToker who falsely tied Freedom Convoy to arson attempt as “fact-checker”
CTV News has appointed TikToker Rachel Gilmore as an election “fact-checker” for the 2025 federal campaign, a move sparking controversy given her history of misleading reports.
CTV News has appointed TikToker Rachel Gilmore as an election “fact-checker” for the 2025 federal campaign, a move sparking controversy among some commentators online given her history of misleading reports.
Gilmore, a former Global News reporter, announced her new role on X, writing: "I’ll be joining YourMorning every Friday for the election to fact-check the campaign. Thank you for having me, CTV."
However, her past misleading reporting that tied an unrelated arson attempt to Freedom Convoy protests in 2022 has raised concerns about her credibility.
Gilmore’s journalism has faced scrutiny for a lack of accuracy. During the 2022 Freedom Convoy protests in Ottawa, she reported that protesters attempted to set an apartment building on fire—a claim later debunked by Ottawa police.
She never issued a retraction, in a now-deleted tweet, Gilmore claimed, "A resident of an Ottawa apartment building says convoy protesters allegedly set fire to the building's lobby while taping the doors shut."
This narrative persisted, and was spread by her following despite law enforcement confirming no connection between the convoy and the arson attempt.
Criticism over CTV News’ decision has grown, with writer and Quilette editor Jonathan Kay highlighting Gilmore’s past false allegations that "convoy truckers tried to burn down an Ottawa apartment building."
Kay referenced tweets in which she described fire-starter bricks being lit in a lobby. In the post Gilmore wrote: "One of them taped up the door handles so no one could get in or out.”
Gilmore has since moved on to TikTok and other platforms to report on "far-right extremism" after being laid off by Global News.
In December 2024, she testified before a Commons public safety committee, alleging that the Freedom Convoy may have been influenced by Russian interests.
However, court records and testimony from convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber showed the movement was rooted in Canadian opposition to COVID-19 mandates, not foreign interference.
The Public Order Emergency Commission found no substantial evidence linking the protest to Russia.
So-called fact checkers are always used to spread fake news.
It just shows the media will use anyone or anything to boost their ratings and backers. If you want this type of verification, get the former mayor of Ottawa who was on the same level as this reporter. I really wonder what would really happen if the media would report unbiased truthful commentary or facts about anything.