Jerry Amernic, author of Sleepwoking, thought he was participating in a legitimate documentary series defending the legacy of Sir John A. Macdonald. Instead, he walked into a taxpayer-funded ambush orchestrated by the CBC and its partners. A producer named “Pam Gibson” (actually Molly Gore) contacted him with flattery, promises of national broadcast, all expenses paid, and a generous honorarium. He was flown to Vancouver, treated like a VIP at what turned out to be a CBC studio, and interviewed under completely false pretenses as part of the “comedy” series Northland Tales.
This was no ordinary production. It was a deceptive sting operation involving fake identities, a phony production company, and activists posing as allies. The goal was to mock and shame Canadians who refuse to embrace extremist, anti-Canada narratives about our history — particularly residential schools and Sir John A. Macdonald. True North author Lindsay Shepherd was also targeted in the same operation. Other victims included academic Frances Widdowson and retired RCMP officers who were flown in only to be publicly humiliated on camera.
This is precisely the kind of wasteful, ideological, brainwashing nonsense that True North exists to fight against. Canadian taxpayers are forced to bankroll a state broadcaster that uses public money to run covert smear campaigns against citizens who dare defend balanced history and national pride. The CBC didn’t just cross a line — it erased the line entirely. After the scandal blew up, the CBC quietly pulled the plug, claiming it didn’t want to harm its “news brand.” The arrogance is staggering.
True North will keep exposing these abuses. Free speech and honest debate about Canada’s history should never be treated as punishable offences by a publicly funded media outlet. Canadians deserve far better than this. It’s time to end the funding for this kind of taxpayer-supported activism disguised as entertainment.
