The shootings in Ottawa are being used by the Canadian and United States governments to “advance a narrative” that allows them to advance corporate interests, launch wars abroad, and “inhibit our freedoms,” British comedian Russell Brand said in a video posted to YouTube.

Brand’s criticism of the official response to the fatal shooting of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo and the subsequent attack on Parliament Hill follows controversial comments from television personalities Geraldo Rivera and Rosie O’Donnell.

Rivera took to Facebook earlier this week to propagate long-dispelled myths that “every Muslim extremist attack since 9/11 has come from the Northern not the Southern border.

“We should get over our obsession with penetrations by undocumented immigrants of the Mexican border and focus on the real threat from the Great White North,” Rivera wrote.

Rivera’s comment received more than 4,700 responses, many of which expressed their shock and outrage and included unprintable insults.

“You obviously don’t know much about Canada,” wrote Jenny Grundy.

User Krista Dan MacIsaac wrote: “Freedom of speech includes poorly informed people communicating their ignorance.”

On Thursday, O’Donnell said that often, “these shooters have severe mental illness” and raised the issue of gun control in the United States.

Brand, meanwhile, suggested that attacks against government and law enforcement institutions are convenient for the objectives of western governments.

“The incidents in Ottawa are being used to advance a narrative that will not only entitle them to further wars abroad, but entitle them to inhibit our freedoms,” Brand said as he wrapped up the 15-minute segment of his YouTube show, “The Trews.”

In the segment, Brand analyzed a speech given by Prime Minister Stephen Harper the evening of the attacks in Ottawa and inserted his own questions and commentary.

Brand described the prime minister’s statement that such attacks strike at Canadian values as “a very familiar and recognizable type of speech.

“When these things happen it’s an attack on all of us. Is it? Is it really? Are those institutions protecting all of us? I know that’s what you’re saying, but where’s the evidence?”

And Brand questioned the meaning behind Harper’s statement that the incident would “strengthen our resolve” and redouble the efforts of our national security agencies.

“The code there is we’re giving more power to the military and government institutions and we will use that power how we want to because you’re under threat and we don’t want Canada to be intimidated,” Brand said.

Brand then moved on from Harper to analyzes a statement U.S. President Barack Obama made about the Ottawa shootings.

When Obama suggested that Canada and the U.S. must work together to fight terrorism, Brand suggested he really means they must work together to advance their international business interests.

“When it comes to dealing with an accepted narrative of enforcing government power on a domestic population and supporting corporate power and abroad, it is important that the U.S.A. and Canada and the trans-national corporate-led and dominated world speak cohesively.”

The segment received more than 1,600 comments. Some commenters who identified themselves as Canadian said they agreed, and worry the government will use the incident to ramp up Canada’s military contribution against ISIS.

Others told that Brand that “you have no idea what you’re talking about.”