Natyshak calls for probe of ‘anti-teacher’ newspaper ads

TORONTO Ontario’s official Opposition is calling for an investigation into what it calls a series of “anti-teacher” advertisements that ran in three national newspapers over the weekend, asking the province’s elections watchdog to determine if they break the law.

New Democrat ethics critic Taras Natyshak, the MPP for the riding of Essex, alleges in a letter to Elections Ontario on Monday that the full-page advertisements violate the province’s election spending rules because they come at a time when two byelections are underway in Ottawa-area ridings.

The advertisements, from a group calling itself Vaughan Working Families, accuse teachers’ union leaders of using children as “pawns” in tense, ongoing contract talks that have led to rotating strikes.

Natyshak said the ads mimic government speaking points and alleges supporters of the Progressive Conservative government may have purchased them, but provided no evidence to support that claim.

A spokeswoman for Education Minister Stephen Lecce’s office said Monday it had no involvement in the ads.

“The government was not aware of the advertisements and is not familiar with the group Vaughan Working Families,” Alexandra Adamo said in a statement.

According to Elections Ontario, any person or entity spending $500 or more on political advertising during a byelection campaign period must register with Elections Ontario.

The maximum a third party can spend is $4,000 during the same period.

Natyshak said the full-page ads would have cost thousands of dollars, which would put the group in direct violation of the law.

The Canadian Press