Download a printable version of this petition here.
TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO:
WHEREAS since 2005 the Auditor General of Ontario had been responsible for reviewing all government advertising to ensure it was not partisan; and,
WHEREAS in 2015 the Liberal government watered down the legislation, removing the ability of the Auditor General to reject partisan ads; and,
WHEREAS Conservatives have since run ads such as those for the Ministry of Health that were extremely partisan in nature, which cost more than $20 million; and,
WHEREAS the Conservative government is currently using taxpayers’ money to run partisan ads during the Super Bowl and the Oscars; and,
WHEREAS history shows that the Conservative government is increasing their spending on partisan ads, totalling nearly $25 million in 2023 compared to $17 million under the Liberal government in 2017; and,
WHEREAS the Conservatives advocated for the reversal of the 2015 amendments when they were in opposition under the Liberals;
THEREFORE WE THE UNDERSIGNED petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to:
Immediately restore the Auditor General’s authority to review all government advertising for partisan messages before the ads run, and to pass the NDP’s Bill 176, End the Public Funding of Partisan Government Advertising Act, 2024.