Day 14
Note: I am a poor note-taker and these summaries will contain errors and omissions which will reflect my limitations. My intention is to report on the facts as accurately as possible although a subconscious bias may creep in. I can only provide glimpses into what I see as relevant and interesting events. My goal is to capture the essence of the day’s events rather than be comprehensive.
Read the reference documents: The Legal Case and Events Leading to Trial to obtain an understanding of the case and its history. Names and terms are abbreviated and defined in Glossary.
STUART THOMPSON
Background and Role
Parliamentary Bureau Chief at the National Post, based in Ottawa.
Has written thousands of articles; currently writes two columns per week.
Understood that Caylan met Mr. Kenney at a political meet‑and‑greet in Calgary.
Was impressed when he first met Caylan; they discussed political philosophy; he believed she was rising through the political ranks.
Published a favourable article about Caylan in the National Post in September 2018, Tab 105, [click HERE to view].
Reaction to the March 18 Press Progress Article
Press Progress published its damaging and defamatory article about Caylan on March 18.
Mr. Thompson knew Press Progress was funded by the Broadbent Institute; he often read it but was sceptical of its content.
The defamatory article contained material at odds with Caylan’s philosophy as he understood it.
He called Caylan because his instinct told him there was more to the story.
Information Provided by Caylan
After speaking with her, he knew his instinct had been correct.
Caylan told him about the campaign of political harassment Jivraj had conducted against her.
She told him Jivraj was the source of the Press Progress article; that she had deleted her copies of the Facebook messages and could neither confirm nor deny the quotes attributed to her.
She provided him with emails and documents relating to Jivraj showing his cunning and treacherous nature.
Mr. Thompson’s Investigation
He wanted to write another article to give the full story.
Spent about a month interviewing people to get both sides.
Interviewed Mr. Kenney, Caylan, and Jivraj; sent an inquiring email to Press Progress.
Spoke to knowledgeable political actors, particularly senior UCP officials.
All senior UCP personnel insisted on speaking off the record because Caylan had become toxic to the Party.
Conducted about six off‑the‑record interviews.
Mr. Kenney told him politics is not always fair; the Party could not spend days defending Caylan; getting elected was the most important thing.
Correspondence with Press Progress
Mr. Thompson wrote probing questions to Press Progress about their defamatory article.
The exhibit shows his email at the bottom and the Press Progress response at the top: Tab 1000253.pdf, [click HERE to view].
Press Progress did not answer any of his questions.
Instead, they falsely stated: “… there is no context in which the statement that one is ‘saddened by the demographic replacement of white people in their homelands’ is not self evidently racist.”
Press Progress claimed the quotes were matters of public interest and had been independently verified.
Outcome
He interviewed Jivraj on the record and recorded the conversation.
Wrote a rough draft of a column giving the other side of the story.
The National Post did not publish it because they required more authentication; they did not have the Facebook messages, and good journalism required verification.
He listened to Caylan’s interview with Danielle Smith, enjoyed it, and was surprised by the blowback and venom on social media.
Cross‑Examination by Mr. Mack (Broadbent Institute)
Before joining the National Post, he was editor‑in‑chief of The Hub, a centre‑right outlet.
Thought Caylan was smart and interesting and invited her to write; The Hub published two of her articles.
His intended story would have profiled Caylan and the “crazy situation” she found herself in; Press Progress and Jivraj would have been included, but Caylan would have been the feature.
Cross‑Examination by Ms. Cooper (Toronto Star)
Not every drafted story is published.
He considered his intended piece an investigative feature.
Jivraj would have been part of the story, and he was not a public figure.
Mr. Thompson was excused.
LICIA CORBELLA
Background and Role
Long‑time journalist who worked in Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary; winner of many awards.
Most recently editor of the editorial page at the Calgary Herald; retired in 2022.
Her Article About Caylan
A movie critic friend told her about a documentary titled Letter from Masanjia.
The film was about a Chinese dissident and won an award at the Calgary International Film Festival.
She watched the film and learned that Caylan was a co‑writer and co‑producer.
Learned that Caylan had studied at Oxford and was deeply concerned about human rights.
Learned that Caylan was interested in politics — making her a strong subject for a profile.
Interviewed Caylan for about two hours at her home.
The interview covered the film, Caylan’s education, political personalities, and her nomination campaign.
She wrote a glowing article about Caylan, published in the Calgary Herald: Tab 37, [click HERE to view].
Events Surrounding the “Fraudulent Resident” Letter
She became aware of the “fraudulent resident” letter written by Jivraj: Tab 56, [click HERE to view].
The letter was published by Press Progress on the same day her article appeared.
She was not interested in writing about political backstabbing or ugly machinations.
Whistleblower Tweet and Jivraj
A tweet by “Whistleblower” claimed her article was a puff piece written at the request of the UCP.
Whistleblower was in fact Jivraj, and the statements were false.
She first came to know of Jivraj when he was living in Toronto; he described himself as a lawyer.
She later learned he was not a lawyer.
Interaction with Press Progress
In January 2018, she received a phone call from Defendant Magusiak of Press Progress.
Magusiak was angry and aggressive, accused her of becoming a federal nomination candidate, and told her Jivraj had purchased domain names including liciacorbella.com and liciacorbella.ca.
The next day, by coincidence, she encountered Magusiak at a press conference.
Reaction to the March 18 Article
She felt sick when she saw the defamatory March 18 article; she considered it character assassination.
She thought the article was false because “white supremacists don’t write and co‑produce movies about Chinese dissidents.”
Postmedia prohibited her from writing about Caylan.
Cross‑Examination by Mr. Mack
She was a member of the UCP when she wrote the favourable article.
Her membership was a reason Postmedia prohibited her from writing about Caylan.
Some of her columns were removed from the Herald because she was a UCP member.
The phone call she received was from someone who identified himself as Magusiak.
The person she met the next day also identified himself as Magusiak.
Re‑Direct Examination
She had joined the Conservative Party of Alberta to vote in the “Unite the Right” campaign.
When the Conservative and Wildrose parties amalgamated, she automatically became a UCP member; she had not purchased a UCP membership.
She was suspended from writing about politics for two months when Postmedia learned she was a UCP member.
Ms. Corbella was excused.
ALAN HALLMAN
Background and Role
Extensive experience in Alberta politics at both municipal and provincial levels.
His company, Alan Hallman & Associates, is in the government relations business.
Considered a power broker in the UCP.
Called to give evidence on behalf of Caylan.
Relationship with Mr. Kenney and Early Interactions
In 2017, he encouraged Mr. Kenney to come to Alberta, unite the right, and become leader of the amalgamated party.
Mr. Kenney became leader of the UCP and then Premier in 2019.
Mr. Hallman met Caylan at a political function in 2018 and invited her, Jivraj, and Phil Shuman to an after‑party at his house.
At the party, Jivraj was drinking heavily.
The Phil Shuman Incident
The next morning, Phil called Mr. Hallman, concerned about information Jivraj had given him.
Jivraj told Phil that Caylan had accused him of sexual impropriety.
Mr. Hallman suggested Phil call Caylan; Phil learned the allegation was fabricated by Jivraj.
Mr. Hallman confronted Jivraj, berated him, and told him never to return to his house.
Caylan as a Candidate
Mr. Hallman worked closely with Mr. Kenney in 2018 looking for outstanding candidates.
Both he and Mr. Kenney saw Caylan as a potential outstanding candidate and wanted her to win a nomination.
He helped with her nomination campaign, though the Party did not intervene.
He considered her a tremendous candidate, one of the strongest in all 87 constituencies.
He said her interaction with people was excellent and that she was bound for a cabinet position if elected.
Events Leading to March 18
Caylan brought the “fraudulent resident” letter to his attention; he believed the directors who signed it had been hoodwinked.
Two of her nomination opponents were credible candidates.
Hlady was also a candidate, but Mr. Kenney instructed Mr. Hallman to tell Hlady the Party would not accept him; Hlady was disqualified.
There was innuendo circulating about inappropriate conduct by Hlady.
The March 18 Article and Aftermath
The defamatory March 18 article was published by Press Progress.
Mr. Hallman was not initially alarmed because “everyone knew Press Progress was NDP propaganda.”
He said Press Progress deceived the public by presenting propaganda as news.
He knew Jivraj was the source of the article, although Press Progress granted him anonymity.
He knew Jivraj was not “a long‑time conservative Muslim with deep ties to the Party,” as alleged.
By March 2018, Jivraj had no role in the UCP; he had been asked to resign as president of the Mountain View constituency association.
Mr. Hallman understood Jivraj had been “run out of Ontario” and moved to Alberta.
Caylan was “thrown under the bus” by the UCP and resigned.
After her resignation, she was treated very poorly by the Party.
Later Interactions
At Mr. Hallman’s 2018 annual BBQ, attended by hundreds, both Mr. Kenney and Caylan were present.
Mr. Hallman asked Mr. Kenney to speak to Caylan; Mr. Kenney did not and left the event.
The treatment of Caylan strained the friendship between Mr. Hallman and Mr. Kenney.
Cross‑Examination by Mr. Mack
Mr. Hallman had been involved in a social media controversy in 2017.
He supported Mr. Kenney for UCP leader, but Party bosses supported another candidate.
He made derogatory comments about that candidate and was suspended from the Party for a year.
Mr. Hallman’s evidence concluded and he was excused.
Comment
It is unfortunate that the article Mr. Thompson intended to write was never published; he had done the research and understood what had happened, and the article could have spared Caylan much agony and misery.
Caylan was considered cabinet material by both Mr. Kenney and Mr. Hallman.