The Allison Inquiry - Mainstream Media Coverage
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In his September 18, 2026 podcast episode titled "Meanwhile in Canada - MSM (mainstream media) Covered Up Covid Damage by Attacking the People Who Got Hurt!" [
The primary points and reports covered in the video include:
Key Topics & Observations
Testimony from Vaccine-Injured Canadians: Frei plays excerpts from testimony presented during the inquiry, focusing on Carrie Sakamoto [
], who described experiencing severe facial paralysis (Bell's palsy), losing the ability to swallow, and requiring feeding tubes after vaccination [03:13 ,00:48 ]. He highlights what he describes as a recurring theme of medical neglect and lack of support from the Canadian healthcare system for individuals reporting post-vaccination complications [03:04 ,03:45 ].04:52 Critique of CTV News & Mainstream Media Coverage: Frei examines a CTV News report by Scott Miller covering the inquiry [
]. The article profiles Maria Dunning-Ballard, a vaccine-injured woman whose application to the federal Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP) remained stuck in Phase 1 for three years [08:24 ]. Freiheit critiques CTV News for framing her frustration toward the inquiry itself—which she labeled as "anti-vaccine and anti-mandate politicization"—rather than focusing on government delays in compensating injured individuals [09:19 ,09:45 ].11:20 Media Corrections and Defamation Allegations: Freiheit highlights a discrepancy discovered by his brother (attorney Dan Frei / Lion Advocacy) in the CTV News piece [
]:14:19 CTV initially claimed in both print and video segments that the inquiry featured an American doctor who was "recently stripped of his medical license" (referring to Dr. Peter McCullough) [
,15:02 ].16:01 Frei notes that while CTV quietly updated the written text of the article to remove the claim, the broadcast video clip accompanying the article was left unedited [
,18:26 ]. Frei argues that this constitutes false reportage and potentially exposes CTV to legal liability for defamation [19:16 ,19:22 ].20:20
The Allison Inquiry was an independent, unsanctioned four-day citizen-led hearing chaired by Niagara West Conservative MP Dean Allison, alongside constitutional lawyer Shawn Buckley and the Covid Testimony Association. Held on Parliament Hill, the initiative took place to give Canadians who experienced severe adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines an opportunity to share their testimonies on record.
Structure & Mandate
Scale: Out of over 1,400 applicants, 50 witnesses were selected to testify in person or virtually.
Scope: Per its terms of reference, the inquiry was designed strictly as a listening exercise rather than a formal court proceeding. It did not have subpoena power, did not hear testimony from Health Canada, and was not tasked with making formal legal findings of fact.
Purpose: MP Dean Allison stated the hearings were aimed at "beginning a conversation that should have started years ago" regarding federal accountability, transparency, and compassion for the vaccine-injured.
Key Testimonies Highlighted
Carrie Sakamoto: Detailed developing severe, sudden Bell's palsy shortly after her vaccination, which progressed to facial paralysis, loss of balance, loss of throat muscular function, and the need for feeding tubes and ongoing physical therapy to re-learn how to chew and swallow.
Drue Taylor: A 36-year-old Alberta massage therapist and business owner who testified remotely because her medical condition rendered her bed-bound and unable to travel. She spoke about the financial devastation of losing her livelihood while navigating the federal compensation process.
Sean Hartman's Story: Testimony presented regarding Sean Hartman, a 17-year-old hockey player who passed away weeks after receiving his vaccine following unexamined side effects.
U.S. Presenters & External Experts: The inquiry also featured commentary from American figures, including U.S. Senator Ron Johnson and medical practitioners such as Dr. Peter McCullough and Dr. James Thorp.
Context on Canada's Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP)
During the hearings, witness testimony frequently pointed to systemic administrative friction within the federal Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP / VAP):
Between June 2021 and late 2025, Health Canada's VISP received 3,557 claims, approving 252 claims and distributing over $21 million in payouts.
Multiple witnesses reported multi-year administrative backlogs, claiming their files remained stalled in initial assessment phases despite documented medical support from their primary care physicians.
In the podcast, David Freiheit (Viva Frei) argued that legacy outlets in Canada function as state-funded propagandists rather than independent public broadcasters.
His main claims regarding media funding included:
Distinction Between Public and State Broadcasters: He asserted that while outlets like CBC are positioned as public broadcasters, their heavy financial reliance on government backing turns them into an "arm of the state."
CBC's Direct Subsidies: He specifically highlighted that the CBC receives $1.6 billion in taxpayer dollars as a Crown corporation.
Support for Private Outlets (CTV, Global, National Post): Frei argued that private legacy media companies are equally dependent on the government. Because these traditional outlets cannot survive on their own merits or commercial advertising in today's market, they rely on "hundreds of millions of dollars in bailouts" and print media subsidies from the federal government to stay afloat.
Impact on Editorial Independence: He claimed that this financial pipeline directly influences their reporting. In his view, outlets like CTV produce hit pieces and cover up government failures—such as vaccine injuries and administrative delays—because their business models are subsidized by the very government responsible for those policies.