Liberals warned of “anti-hate” org’s bias before approving $200K in taxpayer funding

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree’s department privately flagged concerns about political bias at the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, only to approve a fresh $200,000 in taxpayer funding.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree’s department privately flagged concerns about political bias at the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, only to approve a fresh $200,000 in taxpayer funding for the controversial organization anyway, internal government records reveal.

Internal correspondence, obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter, which first reported the story, reveals departmental staff questioned whether past concerns about the Canadian Anti-Hate Network’s impartiality had been addressed before federal funding was renewed.

“In the past the Canadian Anti-Hate Network has been accused of creating products that were not free from bias,” an internal memo released through Access to Information stated. “Was this taken into consideration when providing funding?”

The memo also noted that Minister Marci Ien’s office declined to offer any public comment. “Of note, the Minister’s Office is aware and has declined to provide a quote for this,” said one staff email.

The grant, which expires March 31, supports CAHN research on the “far-right landscape in Canada.” The group has received a total of $908,000 in federal funding since 2020 through Public Safety and Canadian Heritage.

Concerns about the group’s approach have been raised in previous committee hearings. Last year, then-heritage minister Steven Guilbeault told MPs his department would “look at what has been done” with previous CAHN funding, saying the government’s role was “to work to unite people, not divide them.”

Some Conservative MPs have criticized CAHN for what they argue is politically skewed targeting under the guise of anti-extremism work.

In 2021, the group identified former premiers Bill Vander Zalm and Brian Peckford as conspiracy theorists over their opposition to pandemic mandates. A 2024 CAHN booklet, 40 Ways To Fight The Far Right, listed pro-life group Campaign Life among movements it deemed part of the “far right.” Campaign Life organizes annual marches on Parliament Hill often attended by Catholic school groups.

“You’re collecting tax dollars from people all across the country with all sorts of beliefs… and those dollars are being used towards an organization that’s actually furthering or spurring greater polarization,” Conservative MP Rachael Thomas told the heritage committee earlier this year.

The renewed scrutiny comes as CAHN continues to deny accusations that the organization is ideologically driven or linked to Antifa.

In October, CAHN executive director Evan Balgord rejected criticism on a podcast, saying the group is “genuinely a non-partisan organization” and disputing claims it unfairly targets conservatives. He called reports connecting CAHN to Antifa “smear pieces” and defended the group’s work as documenting harmful rhetoric, not labelling ordinary citizens as extremists.

Parents’ groups and journalists who say they were characterized by the organization have argued CAHN’s materials have been used by unions and municipalities to discredit dissenting voices. Balgord has denied that CAHN labelled parents’ groups as extremist and said the organization rarely applies that term.

Newly released Order Paper responses have also renewed attention on federal oversight of CAHN’s funding. Guilbeault acknowledged this fall that his department “doesn’t capture” how much of the more than $700,000 awarded to the organization through Canadian Heritage may have gone to “Antifa or other extremist groups,” or what safeguards ensure tax dollars do not reach such groups.

A 2022 Ontario small-claims ruling accepted evidence that CAHN “did in fact assist Antifa,” though CAHN disputes the judgment and was not a party to the case. A 2024 appeal of that ruling was dismissed.

Canadian Heritage approved $708,400 for CAHN between 2020 and 2026. Guilbeault’s response confirmed the department does not track whether funds are redirected once issued. By contrast, Public Safety told Parliament that its $200,000 grant included explicit prohibitions on redistributing funds and was audited prior to disbursement. “None of the funding was funnelled to Antifa or other extremist groups,” parliamentary secretary Jacques Ramsay said.

CAHN describes itself as “proudly anti-fascist” and says its mission is to document harmful extremism and protect people from hate-motivated violence. The group maintains it has never supported terrorism, violence or criminality.

Federal funding for CAHN continues through the current fiscal year. Whether additional grants will be awarded has not been addressed publicly by the government.