NDP says B.C. auditor should review government ads to curb partisan views

VANCOUVER – The NDP says B.C.’s auditor general should have the final say over any advertising the provincial government runs.

Opposition Leader Adrian Dix says he wants to stop the kind of ads the Liberals are running that he says are aimed at propping up the current government.

He says an NDP government will bring in legislation that will allow the auditor to review all broadcast, online and print ads to make sure they meet certain standards.

Dix says the ads should not feature the premier or any cabinet ministers, should not promote the partisan interests of the ruling party, or make other parties or government critics look bad.

The law would also ban non-essential government advertising just before an election is called.

Dix says the law would make B.C. the second province after Ontario to ban partisan government advertising.