Liberal Opposition Day motion calls for end to wasteful spending on partisan government ads

April 27, 2015

OTTAWA – Liberals today will push the House of Commons to take immediate action to end the wasteful use of Canadians’ tax dollars on partisan government advertising.

“Canadians are understandably upset that Stephen Harper has spent more than $750 million since taking office on wasteful and ineffective partisan advertising,” said Liberal MP David McGuinty. “The Liberal Party has a plan to bring an end to this unethical and irresponsible use of public funds, and we hope that all Members of Parliament will support it.”

The Liberal Party motion, based on Mr. McGuinty’s Private Member’s Bill, C-544, calls on the government to submit all advertising to a third-party review process for vetting ahead of its release, in order to ensure that it is appropriate, proportional, and a prudent use of public funds. Should this motion not be adopted by the House of Commons, the Liberal Party of Canada is committed to including this measure in its election platform.

“Canadians are right to question the priorities of a government that would rather spend hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on self-promoting advertising, instead of helping the middle class and creating jobs and growth in our economy,” said Mr. McGuinty. “If this government will not end this wasteful use of Canadians’ hard-earned tax dollars, then a future Liberal government will.”

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Background:

The Liberal Opposition Day motion is as follows:

Mr. McGuinty–That the House (a) recognize that (i) since 2006, the government has spent $750 million dollars on advertising, (ii) a great deal of this has been partisan advertising that serves no public interest, (iii) this is an affront to taxpayers who work hard and expect that the government will treat their money with respect; and therefore (b) call on the government to submit all advertising to a third-party review process before it is approved, to ensure that it is an appropriate, proportional, and prudent expenditure of public funds.