Canadian Conservatives Face Backlash After ‘Our Home’ Video Features Foreign Landscapes

Canada’s Conservative Party removed a social media campaign video with a strong nationalist tone after it was revealed that much of the footage featured scenes from other countries, including Ukrainian farmers, Slovenian homes, London’s Richmond Park, and Russian fighter jets.

The video, titled “Canada. Our Home,” was initially posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday. It featured various scenes overlaid with a speech from the party leader, Pierre Poilievre. As the Conservatives, who currently lead the governing Liberals in the polls, gear up for what is expected to be a closely contested federal election, the video was intended to bolster national pride.

However, viewers quickly pointed out that much of the footage presented as “Canadian” could be traced to locations outside the country. A Calgary-based user on X, @disorderedyyc, identified at least 13 instances of foreign footage in the video, criticizing the use of non-Canadian content in a campaign meant to celebrate Canada.

Among the errors, a “Canadian dad” driving through the suburbs was actually footage from North Dakota, USA; a classroom scene was shot in Serbia; “Canadian-built” homes were under construction in Slovenia; and a university student “late for class” was filmed in Ukraine. Other notable mistakes included scenes filmed in London’s Richmond Park, Italy, Indonesia, California, and Venezuela, all inaccurately presented as Canadian.

The most controversial scene featured a pair of fighter jets, described by Poilievre as being on a mission to defend Canada. However, it was revealed that the jets were Russian Su-17 and Su-27 aircraft. A spokesperson for Canada’s defense minister criticized the inclusion of Russian jets, especially given the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Following the backlash, the Conservative Party quickly deleted the video, though it has been preserved online by users. A party spokeswoman, Sarah Fischer, acknowledged the mistake. The New Democratic Party’s deputy ethics critic, Charlie Angus, condemned the video, calling on Poilievre to commit to using genuine Canadian content in his campaign and denouncing the use of fake or manufactured digital content.