Ruling on third-party election spending challenged

It's back to court for the federal government and the National Citizens' coalition. Both sides are unhappy with a ruling on third-party election spending handed down on Monday.

A Calgary judge suspended a section of the law which restricts how much citizens and lobby groups can spend on political advertising during an election.

Stephen Harper, president of the NCC, says even though he doesn't agree with all of the judgement he says the decision will make a difference.

"There are a lot of small groups that were talking about running some local ads, wanting to raise some issues locally," says Harper. "They were going to be severely restricted in doing so and for those groups this immediately, if we uphold this judgement, this will remove those restrictions on those groups."

Harper says he's disappointed the judge didn't grant his other requests which included the suspension of rules making lobby groups register with Elections Canada and report their expenses and contributors.

Lawyers for the federal government are also unhappy with the ruling and will be back in court to present their appeal.