Open in full screen mode A scene from the “It’s Happening” ads here in Ontario” which praise the merits of the province. Radio-Canada Voice synthesis, based on artificial intelligence, makes it possible to generate spoken text from a written text. Doug Ford's government spent nearly $8 million on ads touting the virtues of living in Ontario. The opposition calls the campaign “partisan” and a waste of public funds. The advertisements depict scenes from everyday life, whether a farmer dropping off feed, a commuter train rider, a driver charging her electric vehicle or a dog with ears in the wind in car. The Ford government did not want to reveal the cost of the ads in February, but CBC obtained it through a freedom of information request. The ads were broadcast on television during the Super Bowl and the Oscars, among others. Governments should not spend public money to brag or try to convince people that they are doing a good job. A quote from Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles Loading
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No massive and historic regularization of undocumented immigrants in Canada
ELSE ON INFO: No massive and historic regularization of undocumented immigrants in Canada in Canada
For her, it is a partisan campaign.
The Ford government is defending the ad campaign, which aims to inspire pride in Team Ontario's many accomplishments, in addition to instilling confidence in the province's economy, says a ministry spokesperson of Finance, Peter Bethlenfalvy.
All governments, regardless of their allegiance, have used marketing to communicate their messages to people, adds the spokesperson .
The ads cost more than 3.8 million to design, while the cost of broadcasting them on television, radio, billboards and online was nearly 4.1 million, the Ministry of Finance said. /p>
Former Ontario Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk calls it partisan advertising. (File photo)
Bonnie Lysyk, former Ontario Auditor General, also calls these ads “partisan” because& #x27;they do not contain information on public services. For her, the Progressive Conservatives should foot the bill, not the taxpayers.
On Monday, members of the Legislative Assembly must debate x27;an NDP private bill to reinstate rules banning taxpayer-funded partisan ads. Doug Ford promised in 2018 to reinstate such strict rules canceled by the former Liberal government.
D' following information provided by CBC News
's Mike Crawley