Data Leak Reveals Sizable Convoy Donation From New Brunswick Business
SUSSEX CORNER–Hacked website data has revealed a southern New Brunswick-based pressure cleaning retailer is connected to one of the largest donations to the so-called “Freedom Convoy” protest in Ottawa.
Brad Howland, the owner and CEO of Easy-Kleen Pressure Systems Ltd., confirmed in a written statement that he donated at least $70,000 to the ongoing convoy and blockade protest in Ottawa.
“We thank them when we can, but we rarely get the opportunity to support them when they are in need, and they are in need right now,” wrote Howland of the protesters in Ottawa.
“Our company and my family are proud to send with these men and women as they uphold the Charter of Rights and Freedoms of our greatest nation.”
In his statement, Howland recounted driving to Ottawa and being “overwhelmed with emotion” by what he alleged to be a “beautiful, legal, peaceful protest.”
Howland’s donation was revealed in a leak of 30 megabytes of donor information from the Christian crowdfunding site GiveSendGo, distributed by whistleblower-hacker collective Distributed Denial of Secrets (Ddos).
According to a manifesto posted to GiveSendGo’s website by Ddos on February 13, Howland’s donation was second-highest in a list of benefactors that spans Canada and the United States. All donated in support of the ongoing protests against vaccine mandates and restrictions taking place in Ottawa and other provincial capitals.
Distributed Denial of Secrets, a self-described non-profit “transparency collective,” has a history of releasing sensitive data belonging to far-right-wing groups such as the Oath Keepers–as well as shell companies, and public organizations like police departments.
Easy-Kleen launched in 1982, after founder Fred Howland, Brad Howland’s father, was contracted to provide pressure washers for Base Gagetown.
At the time of publication, GiveSendGo’s website was offline for what the organization said was “maintenance and server upgrades.”
GiveSendGo became a prominent fundraising channel for convoy-protesters in Ottawa after GoFundMe blocked $9 million of $10 million in donations to the cause. GoFundMe made the decision after local law enforcement told the company the protests had become unlawful, displayed symbols of hate such as the swastika and Confederate flag, and in some cases became violent.
The leak comes not long after an Ontario court granted an injunction to enforce noise and idling bylaws in Ottawa and a day before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act to break up the protests.
Editor’s Note: This story was last updated February 15, at 10:00 a.m.
Sam Macdonald is a Huddle reporter in Moncton. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].