Hydro bill ads ‘pat on the back’

Likely wouldn’t have passed old rules: AG

TORONTO • New taxpayerfunded ads from the Ontario Liberal government about its plan to cut hydro bills would not have been allowed under previous rules, the auditor general said Friday.

The two ads, running on radio stations across the province, tell listeners that people will receive an average of 25 per cent off their hydro bills this summer and hydro rate increases are being held to inflation for four years.

The Progressive Conservatives say the purpose of the ads appears to be to raise the government’s standing in the eyes of voters, at a time when anger over rising electricity costs has contributed to their decline in the polls.

The ads likely wouldn’t have been approved under old government advertising rules, said auditor general Bonnie Lysyk, noting chan- ges the Liberals enacted in 2015 reduced her office to a rubber stamp.

“Under the previous legislation it would likely not have passed because it does convey a positive impression of the current government and it’s more like a pat on the back- type of advertisement,” she said.

A spokesman for Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault said the ads inform people and direct them to a website where they can learn more about the upcoming changes.

Lysyk said in her l ast annual r eport s he cautioned the government that changing the rules would end up giving taxpayers the bill for millions of dollars in partisan advertising.

“Sure enough, the government walked right through that open door,” she said.

The old rules banned ads as partisan if the intent was to foster a positive impression of government or a negative impression of its critics.

The new rules say an ad is partisan only if it uses an elected member’s picture, name or voice, the colour or logo associated with the political party, or directly criticize a party or member of the legislature.