Farm Credit Canada’s regional office in Casselman, Ontario. (Nelson Zandbergen photo)
Farmers Forum staff
OTTAWA — Farm Credit Canada compiled a list of nine people to be potentially blacklisted because of possible participation in the Freedom Convoy protest in February, according to internal FCC emails acquired by Farmer Forum through an access to information request.
The access to information documents revealed that FCC employees were instructed to report the names of customers who were involved in the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa after the Emergencies Act was enacted on Feb. 14.
The federal lending agency compiled a list of nine people by viewing Twitter accounts and online media posts, as well as drawing from conversations with customers. FCC emails note that the list of nine included convoy participants and potential participants. All FCC and customer names in emails were redacted (blacked out).
In one FCC email, an employee wrote: “With the enactment of the Emergencies Act, FCC will be required to freeze personal and business accounts of participants in the illegal blockades if the federal government directs us to.”
Another internal email told FCC employees: “If you become aware of potential customer involvement in blockades, occupations and other support of activity related to the ‘Freedom Convoy,’ you must submit a tip to the Customer Diligence Centre. Include the customer’s name, state involvement, date and any other pertinent details.”
The email added that “The CDC screens existing and prospective customers against watch lists and industry intelligence information. Any individual and entities that have been verified by the authorities as participating in illegal activity under the Act will face appropriate action, which will include… freezing disbursements and assessing the need to terminate business relationships.”
In a Feb. 23 email an FCC employee wrote: “It has been made aware to me through the local FCC office that one of my customers has been vocal and outspoken in regards to their potential participation in the convoy. I do not have confirmation that they have attended nor have I spoken to the customer about it.”
The employee goes on to note the name of the customer and company (although both were redacted from the Access to information documents) and added: “I did a quick google search and they have popped up a fair bit on some different websites.”
See the documents below.
