B.C. NDP promises end to partisan advertising - Action News
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British Columbia

B.C. NDP promises end to partisan advertising

The B.C. New Democrats are promising legislation to end partisan advertising if the party is elected.

B.C. political advertising controversy

12 years ago
Duration 2:02
The Opposition wants all government ads to be screened by the auditor general first

The B.C. New Democrats are promising legislation to end partisan advertising if the party is elected.

Party leader Adrian Dixs plan would see the auditor general review and sign off on all government ads to ensure they arent partisan before they air.

"If you're promoting public health, youre not going to have any problems, but if you're promoting the Liberal Party, which is what the premier has been doing, you're going to have a problem," he said.

Over the past two years, the Liberal government has spent $15 million in taxpayer money touting their jobs plan, the HSTand other topics, and Dix says it's nothing but blatant partisan advertising.

"The HST stickman ads, the current premiers paid appearances on major networks, and other ads about the B.C. jobs plan that make misleading claims about the rate of job growth and investment in skills trainingpaid out of contingency funds would be disqualified under such rules," Dix said.

The B.C. government has been running ads promoting the strength of the province's economy in the run up to the May provincial election. (B.C. Government)

"I think people generally across B.C.at a time when government doesn't have any money, very much money are outraged by this misuse of partisan ads by the Liberal government. We're saying we won't do it."

The Liberals say the ads are simply providing information and deny they are partisan in nature.

B.C.s next provincial election is in May.