Canada says WeChat news account pushing false narratives about PM Mark Carney

Ottawa said the account had targeted Carney’s experience and credentials in a bid to manipulate Chinese voters

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Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at the Victoria Edelweiss Club during his election campaign tour in Victoria, British Columbia, on Monday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 1:43am, 8 Apr 2025Updated: 9:07am, 8 Apr 2025

Canada said on Monday the most popular news account on Chinese social media platform WeChat was pushing false narratives about Prime Minister Mark Carney in a bid to influence the Canadian election campaign.

“The information operation targeting Mr Carney is deliberately amplifying narratives in a coordinated and inauthentic way on WeChat, to Chinese audiences, including communities living in Canada,” the government’s Privy Council Office said.

In a statement, Ottawa said the account had targeted Carney’s experience and credentials in a bid to manipulate Chinese voters. The effort would not affect the course of the April 28 election, it added.

The messaging is being spread by the Youli-Youmian account, Canada said, citing intelligence reporting that linked the outlet to China’s Communist Party.

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Ottawa said they were unaware of the information operation.

It is simply absurd and unjustified to launch [a] groundless smear and attack against the Chinese government on the basis of individual remarks on a social media platform. China firmly opposes this and will never accept it,” the spokesperson said in an email.

Canada says WeChat news account pushing false narratives about PM Mark Carney

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Ottawa said the account had targeted Carney’s experience and credentials in a bid to manipulate Chinese voters

Ottawa said the account had targeted Carney’s experience and credentials in a bid to manipulate Chinese voters