Based on coverage from CBC, Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, and CityNews.
Ontario's record-breaking spending on government advertising has sparked a heated debate over the use of taxpayer dollars for what some critics call partisan purposes. Auditor General Shelley Spence's latest report reveals that the province spent $112 million on advertising in the 2024-25 fiscal year, surpassing the previous year's record by $8.4 million. The timing of this spending, coinciding with a snap election, has raised eyebrows and drawn criticism from opposition parties.
Auditor General Flags Partisan Advertising
Spence's report highlights that 38 per cent of the ad campaigns, amounting to $43 million, were designed to create a "positive impression" of Premier Doug Ford's government. These campaigns, such as the $19.1 million "It's Happening Here" ads and the nearly $8 million "Highways and Infrastructure" campaign, were criticized for lacking evidence to support their claims. Spence emphasized that taxpayer-funded advertising should inform Ontarians, not promote the governing party.
Opposition Parties Criticize Spending
Opposition leaders have been vocal in their criticism of the Ford government's advertising expenditures. NDP Leader Marit Stiles labelled the spending as "taxpayer-funded propaganda," accusing the government of using public funds to boost its image ahead of the election. Liberal parliamentary leader John Fraser echoed these sentiments, calling the spending "gross" and a misuse of taxpayer money. The Green Party's Mike Schreiner argued that government ads should focus on providing useful information to citizens rather than serving as political promotion.
Historical Context and Legislative Changes
The controversy over government advertising is not new. Prior to 2015, Ontario had stricter rules that prevented partisan ads. However, the Liberal government at the time amended these rules, reducing the auditor general's ability to veto ads deemed partisan. Despite promising to revert to the previous regulations during the 2018 election, the Progressive Conservatives have maintained the current framework. Spence has renewed calls for these rules to be reinstated, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in government advertising.
Impact on Election Dynamics
The auditor's report comes in the wake of mandatory election spending disclosures, which showed that Ford's Progressive Conservatives outspent their rivals by more than $6 million during the election period. Advertising was the largest expense for all major parties, with the PCs spending $7.6 million on campaign ads. Critics argue that the government's use of public funds for advertising provided an unfair advantage in the election, skewing the playing field in favour of the ruling party.
Calls for Reform and Future Implications
As the debate over government advertising continues, there are growing calls for legislative reform to ensure taxpayer dollars are used responsibly. Spence's report underscores the need for clear guidelines that prevent partisan use of public funds. With the next fiscal year's spending yet to be disclosed, Ontarians will be watching closely to see how the government addresses these concerns and whether changes will be implemented to restore public trust in government advertising practices.
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The coverage of Ontario's record advertising spending was largely consistent across the sources, with each noting the $111.9 million spent and the auditor general's concerns about the campaigns promoting a positive image of the Progressive Conservatives. However, the Toronto Star uniquely highlighted the historical context of changes to advertising rules made by the former Liberal government, which limited the auditor's ability to veto partisan ads, a detail not emphasized by other outlets. While CityNews included opposition parties' accusations of self-promotion during an election year, the Toronto Sun and CBC focused more on the auditor's perspective regarding the value and informational content of the ads. Overall, the outlets presented a similar narrative, with slight variations in focus and additional context.
