Thread by @MavenOfMayhem

Have you met Briane? She's a hardworking Canadian single mom who had her bank account frozen because she once gave $50 to the Convoy. Everybody's talking about her. She's the face of injustice and governmental overreach.

Except, people have a lot of questions about Briane.
1/

First, let's get some perspective: According to everything I can find, no more than 300 bank accounts in Canada have been frozen in relation to the convoy so far. While banks can use their discretion, government has said they're going after major sources of funding.
2/

Second, those who have combed through the leaked GiveSendGo data can't find a single Briane or even someone with "B" from Chilliwack. Good breakdown of the data here.
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https://twitter.com/Eric_OTooleMP/status/1495566341738225664

But wait. what if Briane gave to GoFundMe? It was stated she donated when it was still considered "100% legal."

Except, that doesn't work either, as it only relates to donations made after Feb. 15th. (And again, they're going after large donors.)
4/

https://twitter.com/btaplatt/status/1495479451710328836

Despite all this, it's still possible Briane is a real person who really had her bank account frozen due to Convoy activity. It would be an error on the bank's part, but banks make mistakes.

Still, without evidence, it's only a story. Why share it?
5/

Currently, the Emergencies Act is being debated by all federal political parties. The Conservative party members are staunchly against it. However, the majority of Canadians support the use of the EA in this situation.
6/

globalnews.ca/video/8630386/…

This is despite only 17% of Canadians believing Trudeau has done enough throughout this occupation. So even though blame is being put on the PM, the Emergencies Act itself has support - an Act the Conservatives are loudly pushing back against.
7/

Enter Briane, the single mom earning minimum wage who had her bank account frozen. Oh! And also this woman from another Conservative MP's riding who can't access her money because... she bought a $20 convoy t-shirt.
8/

And also this very busy phone line to report your bank account being frozen.
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No more than 300 accounts but all these Canadians affected. Very high call volume. Can't buy a shirt. This is clearly tyranny, right?

That's the power of anecdotal story. When you can't get people on side, tug at their heart strings. Make them care about a mom in Chilliwack.
10/

I use anecdotal evidence in my work all the time. It encourages empathy. If you can see yourself in an issue, you're more likely to support that issue.

But I'm also not debating the historic use of an Act that has never been enacted before. Big, BIG difference.
11/

As I said to Briane's champion, MP Mark Stahl, there is a serious responsibility in reporting facts when you're an elected official - especially now, at this critical juncture.

A story without proof in this situation is merely propaganda.
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https://twitter.com/MavenOfMayhem/status/1495517322030850048?s=20&t=b_emIpaY9tX6du_hTvS0oQ

And what I've watched over the last several hours since Briane's story was shared smacks of a propaganda campaign, all orchestrated by one party: the one most loudly opposed to EA.

From donations to shirts to flooded phone lines, one unjust story stacked up the next.
13/

If these stories are true, evidence needs to be provided. Otherwise, they're only manipulation tactics at best and an orchestrated disinformation campaign at worst. Neither are good for our democracy and we shouldn't accept it happening.

I implore @CPC_HQ to do better.
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