Canada’s Conservative Party Pulls Controversial Campaign Video Amid Backlash Over Foreign Footage

 

Canada’s Conservative Party has retracted a campaign video after it sparked controversy for featuring scenes from various foreign countries, despite its nationalist theme. The video, titled “Canada. Our Home,” was posted on social media platform X on Saturday and was intended to promote the party ahead of a highly anticipated federal election.

The video, narrated by Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, included a montage of scenes meant to evoke Canadian pride. However, viewers quickly noticed that many of the clips were not filmed in Canada. A Calgary-based social media user, @disorderedyyc, highlighted at least 13 discrepancies in the video, revealing that much of the footage was sourced from outside Canada.

Among the inaccuracies, a scene depicting a “Canadian dad” driving through suburban neighborhoods was actually filmed in North Dakota, USA. A classroom clip supposedly showcasing Canadian education was shot in Serbia, while homes described as "Canadian-built" were under construction in Slovenia. Other clips included a student rushing to class in Ukraine, a family gathering in Italy, and cattle grazing in California.

The most controversial scene featured two fighter jets in the sky, which Poilievre described as being on a "training mission" to defend Canada. However, the jets were later identified as Russian Su-17 and Su-27 aircraft. This drew criticism from Canada’s defense ministry, with spokesperson Daniel Minden highlighting the insensitivity of using Russian jets during a time when Russia is waging an illegal war against Ukraine.

Following widespread criticism, the Conservative Party swiftly deleted the video. Party spokeswoman Sarah Fischer acknowledged the mistake, stating, “Mistakes happen, as you can see here.”

The video also drew criticism from political opponents. New Democratic Party deputy ethics critic Charlie Angus condemned the use of “phony, fake, manufactured digital content” and urged Poilievre to commit to a campaign focused on genuine Canadian content.

The video’s removal and the ensuing backlash have underscored the importance of authenticity in political messaging, particularly in a campaign meant to rally national pride.