Witness Testimony

Amélie Paul, a Quebec singer, actress, and online content creator, testified that at the outset of the COVID-19 lockdowns in March 2020, her performance bookings were cancelled and she began producing satirical videos highlighting what she perceived as inconsistencies in public health messaging. One early video, titled “Eleven Ways to Weaken Your Immune System,” went viral and led her to continue creating comedic commentary and conducting interviews with alternative voices. She stated that her content drew social media criticism and that several videos were removed by YouTube for violating community guidelines related to criticism of health measures.
In June 2021, following the death of her friend Bernard Lachance, she was the subject of a CBC article and news report that she testified portrayed her as his naturopath and implied involvement in his health decisions. She denied these characterizations and stated she was not given an opportunity to publicly defend herself. She reported that following the article’s publication, her two YouTube channels were terminated, scheduled music performances were cancelled after sponsor pressure, her musicians withdrew from her band, and she experienced reputational harm, harassment, and boycott campaigns affecting her personal circle.
Paul further testified that she abandoned her limited naturopathic practice due to fear of regulatory complaints and that radio stations declined to play her music after the controversy. She now relies primarily on public donations and limited online advertising revenue. In her view, open media debate was absent during the crisis, and she expressed concern that legislation such as Bill C-11 could increase online content control. She described ongoing reluctance within the artistic community to publicly dissent due to perceived career risks and funding structures tied to media and government institutions.