Months before the provincial election, an unconventional attack ad on B.C. Premier Christy Clark is raising some eyebrows.
In the ad released by the BC Federation of Labour (BCFED), Clark is turned into an ’80s-era video game character wearing a pantsuit and a hard hat, who racks up bonus points for photo-ops and school closures.
BCFED President Irene Lanzinger said they are using the ad to urge British Columbians to tell Clark that it’s “game over” by electing a new government in May.
She says it’s paramount that British Columbians understand their choices come the May election.
WATCH: BCFED launches new attack ad
“It’s really important for them to remember the record of the Clark government — a record of reduced public services, lack of funding for education and health care and a very bad jobs plan,” she said. “People need to understand that we can do so much better in B.C. — we can have a $15 minimum wage, we can have a poverty reduction plan, we can have a good jobs plan and that’s the kind of government we need to elect.”
Lanzinger said the ad cost $70,000.
She says it’s money well spent considering how much response the ad is getting online.
“It’s pretty popular so far,” said Lanzinger. “It’s getting lots of shares, so we think it’s going to be successful in terms of getting our message out.”
Lanzinger said they have a similar social media ad, addressing job losses and low wages in B.C., coming out next week.
Over in Clark’s camp, the ad was taken in stride.
“I’m glad I was in a hard hat, that’s the one thing they got right,” Clark said about the ad when approached by reporters during a photo-op with ironworkers in Victoria Wednesday afternoon.
Clark said she is focused on building a positive future, and not running attack ads, but anticipates more of the same messaging from the opposition.
“I think that what we are seeing out there now will probably be a harbinger of what we are going to see from the BC NDP during the general election. That’s generally the way these things go,” Clark said.