Honestly though John ... and to anyone ready this, it doesn't matter who started it -- it's bullshit and it should stop

“Truth in Advertising” ... at one point that was something that was adhered to by the broadcast industry.  Nowadays however with such lack laws on the books, that same industry basically allows anything, and everything, to go out over the airwaves.

A recent CBC News story talked the left side of the political spectrum, and Engage Canada (formed in late 2014), which ran two short ads during the game painting Scheer as a "yes man" to Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

The story stated that spokeswoman Tabitha Bernard wouldn't say who runs the group, but former NDP strategist Kathleen Monk — now a principal with the Earnscliffe Strategy Group and a frequent contributor to CBC's Power & Politics's power panel — former Liberal staffer Dave Gene, executive assistant to the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario Igor Delov, and Peter Kennedy of the Canadian Autoworkers Union are all listed as directors on the group's corporate records.

Here is just one of the 30 second ads recently run by Engage Canada:

Andrew Scheer, another Conservative Prime Minister? He’s a Yes Man to the 1%.  He’d say Yes to tac cuts for the rich Canadians. And Big Business?  He’d say yes to their tax cuts too. Following Doug Ford with Conservative health care cuts?  Hell Yes.  Scheer’s a Yes Man to them and that means no to you.  Andrew Scheer, his weakness will cost you. Learn more at www.scheerweakness.ca

When I went to that page, I saw little to nothing to back up the absurd statements in that ad.  Here’s just one example of the absurdness, manipulation, and deceitful and dishonest commentary they had posted today (June 19^th):

Jun 19, 2019

“The Conservatives running everything means Doug Ford running everything (and the basis for this is?) — that’s the message of our new radio ad.  Doug Ford is a huge threat to our universal, public healthcare (again FACTS PLEASE). He could privatize it in Ontario and turn it into an American-style system. The cuts will be deep and they will cost us. And because Andrew Scheer won’t stand up to him (What possible proof do you have for this?), we can expect more of Ford’s slash and burn across the country if Scheer becomes Prime Minister (Oh Really – when has there ever been anything even remotely coming from Scheer to suggest this).”

And then there is Shaping Canada's Future, which describes itself as a "free enterprise oriented" group (according to CBC News)... but corporate records show it's helmed by Douglas Nelson and based out of Calgary.

That CBC story indicated that according to Elections Alberta, a Douglas Nelson was also the contact for the group Shaping Alberta's Future and the chief financial officer for Jason Kenney's winning campaign during the 2017 UCP leadership race.

Shaping Alberta's Future received tens of thousands of dollars in corporate funding during Alberta's recent election, including contributions from the oil and gas industry. 

Here is one of the ads from this group attempting to shape public opinion:

“(Sigh) ... well it’s been four years, let’s talk about Justin. We should talk about what he promised. A balanced Budget. And that didn’t happen. He promised electoral reform. That was a lie. Have you seen the price of gas lately? His carbon tax is making it too expensive to drive. That’s what he wants. He doesn’t get people like us. It’s clear he’s in over his head. He’s certainly not his father.
Justin Trudeau ... he was never ready.”

Now of course I have a bias towards the Conservatives, however one thing about this ad stands out ... and with 25+ years in ALL aspects of radio, it’s no surprise to me.  What caught my attention was the statement:

“That’s what he wants. He doesn’t get people like us”. 

It was a subliminal thought deliberately placed to sink into our minds -- well thought to have people equate Trudeau as someone who doesn’t care, that as someone from a rich family he couldn’t possibly understands most Canadian, AND regardless, he doesn’t care anyway.

Honestly, I do believe he doesn’t understand most Canadians – the middle class – because he’s never had to worry about money, or where it was coming from.  It’s simply that was the way he was brought up, so personally I believe that statement was harsh, and uncalled for

And then there’s this 30 second Conservative Party TV advertisement. In the ad are five actors, men and women of various ages and ethnicities, sitting around the table discussing Justin

“His administration continues to be rocked by chaos and controversy.  The fall-out continues over the firing of his Attorney General and the resignations of his top advisers. He’s engaging in a cover-up after he shut down two separate investigations in to his scandals. Questions are now being raised about his competence and judgement.  In response, he’s again lashing out and threatening lawsuits against his critics. Justin Trudeau, he’s not who you thought he was. He’s not as advertised.”

Unfortunately, you have to actually see the ad to understand it so please do.  Regardless for now, let me set the scene.  It begins with a picture of US President Donald Trump, and the narrator reads the script – as the narration continues, the picture slides to the right and we then see Prime Justin Trudeau standing next to Trump.

This ad, simply put, is BAD.  It is negative to the extreme, and again impacts us in a way that is distasteful.  Justin Trudeau, no matter what you may think of him, is NOT a Donald Trump clone!

My online friend, John O’Fee, commented on a post John Feldsted had on the blog-site this morning, that in part talked about negative political advertising.  He said, “You (meaning the Conservatives) started it.”

I had to respond, okay I really didn’t but I couldn’t help myself:

“Now that's the kind of thing I recall from elementary school on the playground”.

Honestly though John ... and to anyone ready this ... it doesn't matter who started it -- it's bullshit and it should stop. It never will however because the back-room boys are addicted to poison like this. It's what they live and breath

ADDITIONALLY, all of the above mentioned ads should NOT BE ALLOWED according to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters own guidelines:

Clause 13 - Advertising (General Principles)   

... recognizing the service that commercial sponsors render to listeners and viewers in making known to them the goods and services available in their communities and realizing that the story of such goods and services goes into the intimacy of the home, it shall be the responsibility of broadcasters and their sales representatives to work with advertisers and agencies in improving the technique of telling the advertising story so that these shall be simple, truthful and believable, and shall not offend prevailing community standards of tolerability...

... while appropriate legislation protects the public from false and exaggerated claims for drugs, proprietary medicines and foods, it shall be the responsibility of broadcasters and their sales representatives to work with the advertisers ... recognizing also that advertising appeals or commentaries by any advertiser that cast reflection upon the operation of a competitor or other industry or business are destructive of public confidence, it shall be the responsibility of broadcasters, so far as it lies within their power to do so, to prevent such advertising appeals or commentaries from being broadcast ...

And then there is Clause 14 - Advertising (Details)  which being rather vague, allows broadcasters to get away with and allowing the truth to be stretched as far as possible:

... Broadcasters recognize that they are responsible for the acceptability of advertising material they broadcast.  All commercials must conform to applicable laws and regulations.

Regardless the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' Code of Ethics, administered by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, has NOT BEEN REVISED SINCE June 2002. Which brings me to say, ‘Little wonder then that this crap continues.’

If you care to share your thoughts about the political advertising, already starting well in advance of this Falls Federal Election, contact the Canadian Association of Broadcasters

Address:
770-45 O’Connor St.
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 1A4

Tel: (613) 233-4035
Fax: (613) 233-6961
E-mail: sbissonnette@cab-acr.ca