Public money, partisan advertising
Partisan political advertising masquerading as vital government information or public service was not invented by the Conservative government. The Liberals did the same thing in their time, but since 2006, the Conservative government has taken the practice to such intolerable new heights, it has become an abuse of power. It must be stopped.
On radio and television, in newspapers and online, the Conservatives are using taxpayer money to tell Canadians what a wonderful job their government is doing, blurring the line between partisan commercials and genuine public service advertising. That is why Ottawa South MP David McGuinty is right to propose legislation to rein in partisan advertising by all governments now and in the future. All federal lawmakers should consider it on its merits. The Conservatives, after all, brand themselves as defenders of the taxpayer.
The legislation would create a new advertising watchdog housed in the Auditor General’s department, to police government advertising. McGuinty said the federal legislation would be modelled on 2004 Ontario legislation that empowered the provincial auditor general to vet all government ads before they went on air, to make sure they are not partisan political propaganda. In Ontario, the job is done by a panel set up by the auditor general, and the evidence so far is that the system works. Ontario government ads have been devoid of the controversy that has usually accompanied federal ones. The only difference federally is that an advertising commissioner, appointed from within the AG’s department, would oversee government spending in the area and ensure accountability.
The idea makes sense for a number of reasons. Government advertising is a multimillion-dollar enterprise. According to figures supplied by McGuinty, the Conservative government has spent more than $600 million on advertising. It has spent about $120 million on the Economic Action Plan alone. As part of the 2009 stimulus funding, cities across the country were required to pay for separate billboards touting federal generosity. Ottawa was required to put up 91 billboards at a cost of $500 each.
The AG normally examines government spending, and it makes sense that someone in the AG’s office is given responsibility to assess this kind of spending on ads. It is also true that not all government advertising is wasteful. But deciding what is in the public interest as opposed to the interest of the governing party is often difficult. That is where an independent ad commissioner is vital. As the experience in Ontario has shown, such decisions can be made outside politics.
McGuinty’s bill is one that should transcend party politics. The government has a majority and can use it to defeat this bill, but we urge the prime minister to resist the temptation. MPs know in their hearts that partisan government ad spending is out of control and not in the public interest. They should have the courage to support it, and amend it, if necessary to make it better. But they should not reject it. Let us end this partisan misuse of public funds.