Liberals call for end to wasteful spending on partisan government advertising

March 4, 2015

OTTAWA – The Conservative government must immediately end the wasteful spending of Canadians’ tax dollars on partisan government advertising, said Liberals today.

“Time and time again, this Prime Minister has proven that he has no shame in spending public funds on wasteful and ineffective partisan ads,” said Liberal Finance Critic, Scott Brison. “Canadians are rightly upset that their government preaches restraint for everyone else, but spends hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on self-promoting advertising.”

Since 2006, the Conservatives have spent nearly $750 million on partisan government ads. Examples of wasteful government advertising include: spending $37.4 million promoting the Conservative “Economic Action Plan” since the program ended, and an advertisement for the Canada Job Grant before the program even existed. The government has also repeatedly purchased expensive advertising during peak viewership time slots – such as during the NHL playoffs, the Super Bowl and the Oscars – and continually refused to detail the costs.

“Canadians are right to question the priorities of this government, which would rather spend millions on partisan ads than invest in job-creating infrastructure or caring for our veterans,” said Mr. Brison. “This irresponsible and unethical spending must stop, and if the Harper Conservatives won’t do it, then a future Liberal government will.”