Barred From Canada's Biggest Arms Expo ft. Christy Somos (Podcast)
Increasing militarism and a crackdown on critical reporting
This week on The North State, I speak to Christy Somos, award-winning Canadian journalist, producer and analyst about being denied accreditation to report on CANSEC, Canada's largest arms expo. RSS feed here. Apple Podcasts link here.
Description
On May 27 to 28, CANSEC, the country's biggest arms expo, brought together Carney ministers and top arms manufacturers in a time of vast military spending. The Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI), the organization that puts it on, prevented some journalists from attending. The Maple was denied for unspecified reasons and another reporter was declined due to timelines, despite the fact that at least one other journalist was let in after the deadline. Christy Somos, award-winning Canadian journalist, producer, analyst and writer behind The State of Things, a newsletter focused on national security and extremism in Canada was that reporter. She joins Scott to discuss the process of her accreditation being denied, the worsening conditions for press freedom and how denying critical voices reveals a weakness in the arms industry.
Follow Christy on Bluesky
Sources and Further Reading
The Breach barred from weapons show for ‘critical anti-war journalism’ (2023) - The Breach
CANSEC Arms Fair Bars Multiple Independent Journalists From Attending - The Maple
Christy Somos on Ottawa Citizen Reporter - Bluesky post
Ottawa Says It’s Not Involved in the Iran War. It Might Be Lying - The Walrus
Mickey Djuric Post on Wang Yi Visit
‘Well done, sir,’ Canadians react to NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh refusing to answer questions from Rebel News at French debate - Now Toronto
Ex-CityNews reporter Tina Yazdani is suing Rogers for $650,000 - Toronto Life
