B.C. NDP promises end to partisan advertising

The B.C. New Democrats are promising legislation to end partisan advertising if the party is elected.

Party leader Adrian Dix’s plan would see the auditor general review and sign off on all government ads to ensure they aren’t partisan before they air.

"If you're promoting public health, you’re not going to have any problems, but if you're promoting the Liberal Party, which is what the premier has been doing, you're going to have a problem," he said.

Over the past two years, the Liberal government has spent $15 million in taxpayer money touting their jobs plan, the HST and other topics, and Dix says it's nothing but blatant partisan advertising.

"The HST stickman ads, the current premier’s paid appearances on major networks, and other ads about the B.C. jobs plan that make misleading claims about the rate of job growth and investment in skills training — paid out of contingency funds — would be disqualified under such rules," Dix said.

"I think people generally across B.C. — at a time when government doesn't have any money, very much money — are outraged by this misuse of partisan ads by the Liberal government. We're saying we won't do it."

The Liberals say the ads are simply providing information and deny they are partisan in nature.

B.C.’s next provincial election is in May.