Rebel News owner Ezra Levant was 'mentor' to Poilievre, says author | CBC News

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has documented historic ties to Rebel News owner Ezra Levant, the media personality at the epicentre of a controversy that has engulfed Canada's Leaders' Debates Commission. 

After facing criticism for allowing right-wing media activists to dominate the post-French debate press conference, the commission cancelled Thursday's post-debate question-and-answer session citing undefined security concerns.

The commission's decision Thursday came amid tensions between Levant — a political activist behind two entities registered with Elections Canada as third-party advocacy groups — and some journalists covering the English debate on-site.

The controversy that flowed around Levant and his right-wing Rebel News online media employees partly overshadowed the central event of the evening. 

The federal leaders English-debate was a pivotal moment for Poilievre who was seeking to grab the momentum and polling lead away from Liberal Leader Mark Carney as the campaign headed into its final week.