Should Gov’t Be Allowed to Burn Ad $$ for Partisan Positions? By Jamie Gilcig 092517

Cornwall Ontario – Thanks to a NDP Freedom of Information request we now know that the Wynne Government spent $5.5 million dollars advertising their putrid sale of Hydro One.  A plan that also sees the government essentially financing the sale to unions and groups they want support from.

A release from the NDP goes on to explain that Ms Wynne spent those dollars (The Liberals financially boycott this newspaper refusing to purchase any ads or public notices in spite of CFN having the largest impact in this region.  LINK.)  to combat “negative media coverage of rising electricity bills.”

Of course all politicians and parties encounter “negative press”.  It’s part of our job; just like we give out good press, but should you being in power allow you to burn taxpayers because your plan is attracting said press?

Should Govt's be Allowed to Burn Tax Cash to React to Negative Press?

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“$5.5 million is an eye-popping number, especially when the Financial Accountability Officer has said this Liberal scheme is going to do more harm than good in the long run when it comes to families’ hydro bills,” said Horwath.

How can voters truly be informed when one party can spend $5.5M on a single issue?  How many $5M issues has Ms Wynne burned through?

And think about the editorial process of large corporate chain media who if they don’t support the party line might lose out on ad dollars or as in this case of this newspaper, be boycotted by the government?

Governments are some of the biggest advertisers in 2017.   Surely the only criteria that should be used on these decisions are value and reach of impact as opposed to partisan fealty.

What do you think dear CFN viewers?  You can post your comments below.   And yes, we’re now a troll free zone.

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