'You will not be given a platform,' Wasaga Beach blocks 'toxic' comments on social media
The Town of Wasaga Beach says it will “temporarily” put an end to comments on its social media pages they say will stop the spread of hate and misinformation.
In a Facebook post, Mayor Nina Bifolchi addressed the community and pointed the finger at a "small handful of people," who she calls toxic and is abusing the town's social media platforms as a way to "spread their hate, lies, and bullying behaviour."
"When their lies and hate are not permitted, they claim censorship. Toxic people love playing the victim," says Bifolchi.
"Their twisting of the facts to suit their needs and narcissistic ways is keeping staff busy monitoring the town's social media platform, taking away from other proactive activities."
According to the post, the town staff discussed the situation with the Chief Administrative Officer, George Vadeboncoeur, and agreed to turn off the comments but says it will continue to share information on its channels.
According to Bifolchi, the decision to mute comments is "not about the town trying to control the narrative," but to silence the negativity online.
"To the small group, you will not be given a platform to spew your hate and lies," she says.
Bilfochi went on to thank those in the community who have used its platforms and expressed their views respectfully.
The town's council and committee meetings will continue to stream live on Youtube.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Explosion at train station leads to discovery of stolen car on Montreal's South Shore: police
Police are investigating after a BMW exploded in the St-Lambert Exo train station parking lot on Montreal's South Shore.