PCs Call on Government to Restore Auditor General Oversight of Government Advertisements

QUEEN’S PARK – Today Ontario PC Deputy Leader Sylvia Jones (Dufferin-Caledon) called on the Liberal government to support her Private Member’s Bill that would put an end to the Liberal government’s taxpayer-funded partisan advertisements.

“Life’s already too unaffordable under the Liberals. Having taxpayers foot the bill for self-congratulatory and misleading ads is unacceptable,” said Jones.

In 2015, The Liberals amended the Government Advertising Act to remove the Auditor General’s oversight of government advertisements. Since then taxpayers have been used to pay for millions of dollars of misleading government advertisements that do little more than sell Liberal spin.

Most recently, the government introduced a series of ads promoting their brand-new hydro scheme.

“These ads represent nearly a million dollars going towards Premier Kathleen Wynne’s re-election campaign,” Jones added. “This is taxpayer money that should be going towards desperately needed hydro relief for families, businesses and hospitals.”

“This legislation will restore the Auditor General’s ability to review and approve government-funded advertising,” said Jones. “I urge Premier Wynne and her Liberal Caucus to do the right thing, respect taxpayer dollars, and support this legislation.”