In October 2024, Fredericton City Councillor Margo Shepherd received an email urging her to reconsider the city’s net-zero climate policy. This email was part of a coordinated campaign by Kiclei, a group created by Freedom Convoy activist Maggie Hope Brown, which aims to persuade municipalities across Canada to withdraw from their climate commitments. Thousands of councillors from over 500 municipalities received similar messages, prompting concern among local officials about the misinformation being disseminated.
Kiclei utilizes an AI chatbot named “Canadian Civic Advisor,” designed to craft tailored messages that downplay climate concerns. The chatbot provides scripts for reports and speeches that often distort climate science. Experts have noted that the tactics employed could undermine climate action by spreading misinformation effectively and garnering support from local officials who are responding to community concerns.
As of early 2025, at least 14 municipalities have been influenced by Kiclei’s efforts, including Thorold, Ontario, which voted to withdraw from a climate protection program. The group’s materials include misleading claims about the consensus among climate scientists regarding human-driven climate change.
Brown defended Kiclei’s activities as a form of civic engagement, dismissing criticisms from climate scientists about the accuracy of their information. Meanwhile, local officials, like Margo Shepherd, find themselves overwhelmed by the relentless outreach and misinformation generated by Kiclei, raising alarms about the impact on democracy and climate policy in Canada.
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