The provincial New Democrats have complained to Elections Canada that the Progressive Conservative government’s mandatory gas pump stickers may violate federal campaign laws.NDP MPP Taras Natyshak has written to Canada’s chief electoral officer Stéphane Perrault about the Tory-blue decals that will soon appear at every gasoline station in Ontario under threat of fines of up to $10,000 a day.The stickers highlight the impact of the federal Liberal government’s carbon-pricing measures on gasoline, but they do not mention the offsetting rebates Ottawa is sending back to those affected.“I am writing to you concerning what I believe could be a violation of Canada’s election advertising rules,” wrote Natyshak (Essex).“As you are aware, Part 16, section 319 of the Canada Elections Act, 2000 defines elections advertising as: … ‘the transmission to the public by any means during an election period of an advertising message that promotes or opposes a registered party or the election of a candidate, including one that takes a position on an issue with which a registered party or candidate is associated.’”The New Democrat MPP is concerned the 20-by-15-centimetre stickers will still be on pumps during the campaign period this fall.“In recent weeks the premier of Ontario has announced his intention to force Ontario gasoline retailers to display ‘anti-carbon tax’ notices on their gas pumps,” wrote Natyshak.“These stickers are clearly advertising within the definition of the Act. They are also, clearly, partisan in their aim. In the words of the premier’s colleague, Minister of Energy, Mines, Northern Development and Indigenous Affairs Greg Rickford: ‘We’re going to stick it to the Liberals and remind the people of Ontario how much this job-killing, regressive carbon tax costs.’” Natyshak noted it remains “unclear how much this advertising cam ...
|
