Thread by @readthemaple

Wendy Mesley questioned Maxime Bernier about his connections to the Koch brothers through the Montreal Economic Institute, which is supported by the Atlas Network.

She’s stumbled onto a big story that our team's been covering for a while north99.org/2018/02/08/dar… #cdnpoli /t

The Atlas Network, funded by the Kochs and other billionaire rightwing Republicans, are involved in Canadian political groups and supposedly non-partisan think-tanks: atlasnetwork.org/partners/globa…

According to their website, they supported the following Canadian groups as of 2016: /2

Atlantic Insitute for Market Studies
Canadian Constitution Foundation
Canadian Taxpayers Federation
The Fraser Institute
Frontier Centre for Public Policy
Institute for Liberal Studies
Justice Centre for Constitution Freedoms
Ludwig Von Mises Institute of Canada
(cont) /3

Macdonald-Laurier Institute for Public Policy
Manning Centre
Montreal Economic Institute
World Taxpayers Associations

These are some of the most influential Canadian think tanks. And they’re involved with a US libertarian group bankrolled by the Kochs. Let that sink in... /4

Based on the Atlas Network's yearly report, $204,671 was provided to Canadian organizations: north99.org/2018/02/08/dar…

But it goes beyond funding. These organizations have built a web of influence in Canada designed to push their rightwing agenda /5

It’s well documented that the Fraser Institute received funding directly from the Kochs: huffingtonpost.ca/2012/04/26/koc…

But what is less well-known is that they directly employ American libertarian Atlas-connected speakers: /6

For example, Tawni Hunt Ferrarini is an American and a senior fellow at the Fraser Institute. She’s funded by the same organizations that funds the Atlas Network: north99.org/2018/06/26/fra… /7

Ninos Malek teaches Canarian students about economics. He’s an American professor, believes corporations should be able to discriminate, and is part of the Mises Institute.

The Canadian branch of the Mises Institute is an Atlas Network partner: north99.org/2018/02/16/far… /8

Even more concerning is the Atlas Network's influence on politics and Canadian law through their support of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms. /9

The JCCF funds lawsuits attacking gay rights and anti-abortion laws in Canada. Their Board of Directors have ties to other Canadian Atlas Network groups:
- Marco Navarro-Genie, President, Atlantic Institute for Market Studies
- Troy Lanigan, President of CTF Regina /10

Here are JCCF endorsements from Canadian think-tanks connected to the Atlas Network
- Michel Kelly-Gagnon, President, Montreal Economic Institute
- Matt Bufton, Executive Director, Institute for Liberal Studies /11

- Brian Lee Crowley, Managing Director, Macdonald-Laurier Institute
- Gordon Gibson, Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute

You see a pattern here? north99.org/2018/02/08/dar… /12

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation refuses to answer whether they receive funding from them.

Kudos to the Tyee for being the first outlet to question them: thetyee.ca/Opinion/2018/0… /13

The Atlas Network even features the CTF's "waste" awards on their website! /14

You know what's weird? The Atlas Network also supports the New Zealand Taxpayers Union.

Both organizations use the exact same stunts.

On the left is Newzealand, the right is Canada /15

They even feature a fundraiser where they explicitly say they'll copy the Canadian Taxpayers Federation!

(yes, that's Toronto Sun columnist and Rebel Media guest Candice Malcolm in the photo) /16

The CTF's Generation Screwed campaign is featured on the Atlas Network’s website: north99.org/2018/02/26/ame…

Generation Screwed regularly hosts speakers from the Atlas Network like David Clement. He works at the American Students for Liberty, another Atlas Network group /17

Generation Screwed invited guests like Sean Speer from the MacDonald Laurier Institute and Matt Bufton from the Institute for Liberal Studies.

Both are Atlas Network-supported Canadian think tanks: north99.org/2018/02/26/ame… /18

What’s even more concerning? The Manning Centre, Canada’s Conservative leading organization, is an Atlas Network member.

The 2018 Manning Networking Conference event was even listed on the Atlas Network’s website:
atlasnetwork.org/event/manning-… /19

There are too many connections to list on Twitter. But you get the idea.

Hopefully more Canadian news organizations start investigating how American dark money is influencing and shaping politics in our country #cdnpoli /20

If you want to support our investigative research work, please consider making a donation. Unlike these groups, we're an entirely volunteer team funded 100% by Canadian grassroots donors: north99.org/become-a-suppo…

Here's another Twitter thread on the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, another Canadian think tank connected to the Atlas Network:

https://twitter.com/wearenorth99/status/1044290973180874753