[LabComm] James calls on Campbell to halt ads during by-election, says NDP will ban all partisan government advertising

[BC NDP NEWSWIRE]

VICTORIA - NDP Leader Carole James today called on Gordon Campbell to pull taxpayer-financed government ads for the duration of the by-election campaign in Surrey-Panorama Ridge. 

James said that as Premier she would restrict government advertising to information that served the public interest and would ban taxpayer-financed partisan ads. She said that she would ask a non-partisan, blue-ribbon committee to develop strict guidelines for government advertising.

"Taxpayer funded partisan advertising is out of control. And as Premier I will put a stop to it once and for all." said James. "With paycheques declining, health waitlists growing, and schools being closed, it is irresponsible and wrong to spend tens of millions of tax dollars telling the public how good things are.

"It's also irresponsible for this Premier to refuse to tell taxpayers exactly how much of their money he is spending to polish his own image during the lead-up to the general election next May."

James said this is not the first time that the Premier has wasted taxpayer money on partisan communications. In 1996, he spent $1 million of Liberal caucus funds on a partisan mailer that triggered an investigation and recommendation from BC's Auditor General. (See below).

James said that the government is also using millions of tax dollars to try to influence the outcome of the by-election in Surrey Panorama-Ridge and called on the Premier to pull the ads.

"Gordon Campbell promised not to advertise during the four-month period before an election," said James. "He's breaking that promise to the people of Surrey-Panorama Ridge, and he should at least pull the ads until after the by-election, if not altogether." 

James said that in some instances government must advertise. She cited ads that promote tourism, that inform the public about how to access important government information, and that promote public safety as legitimate. 

"At times government has a responsibility to advertise. But to ensure taxpayers get value for their money, I will take politics out of the equation. Under my leadership, not one dime of taxpayer money will go to partisan ads that are designed simply to promote the government."

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Backgrounder 

In June 1996, BC's Auditor General issued a report entitled "Issues of Public Interest, Public Communications: Distinguishing Between Government Program and Partisan Political Communications." The report was the result of an investigation into a controversial mailer sent out by Gordon Campbell and the Liberal Caucus using $1 million in taxpayer funds. In the report, the Auditor General suggested guidelines for government advertising that revolved around the following principle:

"Public communications paid for by the taxpayer should not contain information or have a tone or presentation that may be considered to be of a partisan political nature."

Among the guidelines suggested by the Auditor General were the following:

"Public communications...should not be aimed solely at setting out the positive achievements of the government."

"Advertising undertaken either shortly before or after an election writ is issued should have a clear commercial or essential community information purpose and be necessary at that particular time. It should not give grounds, through its content or timing, for a claim that it is being used for partisan political gain."

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