Facebook makes it easy to run illegal and ‘Astroturf’ ads, say Canadian digital political strategists
Anonymous and illegal political ad campaigns are probably already running in Canada, thanks in part to Facebook and other online advertising platforms that make it easy to skirt laws around political advertising, say political digital marketing specialists. “If you want to influence around the rules, it’s pretty straightforward to do so,” said Stephen Carter, a […]
“The federal government is reportedly considering changes to digital political advertising rules. What should be done?”
Cameron Ahmad Liberal strategist “Ensuring Canada has tough election financing laws is one way to improve, strengthen, and protect our democratic institutions. Our government is reviewing the limits on the amounts political parties and third parties can spend during elections, and proposing new measures to ensure that spending between elections is subject to reasonable limits […]
Bill to ban unhealthy food ads for kids clears Senate, House sponsor sought
With her bill having passed the Senate last week, Conservative Senator Nancy Greene Raine is now casting about for an MP in the House to champion her legislation banning the advertising of unhealthy food and drinks to children under the age of 17. Bill S-228, the Child Health Protection Act, seeks to change the Food […]
Gender pay gap due to sexism, not women’s poor negotiating skills
OTTAWA—The creative Secret deodorant message is intended to portray a young woman who is standing up for her right to equal pay. Instead, it reinforces the message that the indefensible pay gap between young women and men is the result of poor female negotiating skills. Just last week, the University of Waterloo announced a half-measured […]
Government’s non-partisan ad and communications policy met by cries of partisanship, confusion
The federal government’s new policy on partisan-free advertising and communications unveiled last Thursday, which is intended to provide “clearer and simplified guidance to officials on the conduct of government communications activities,” resulted in miscommunication and confusion within 24 hours of its release. Though the policy is intended to prevent partisan government advertising, it’s not clear […]
Corrections
A caption on page 9 in last week’s issue of The Hill Times incorrectly stated Prime Minister Paul Martin and his wife Sheila bought their Christmas wreath in the ByWard Market. The Prime Minister bought the $240 wreath at Tivoli Florist in Westboro, where Liberal candidate Richard Mahoney was campaigning. * In last week’s Heard […]
PARLIAMENTARY CALENDAR: Ekos’ Graves to look at political landscape
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 18 Federal Election 2006: Approaching National Judgment – At the dawn of a national election, the federal political landscape is being fundamentally rethought and reshaped by a battle to define Canada. EKOS Research president Frank Graves will demystify how these conflicting visions sit with Canadians and will look at the evolving structure of […]
‘This eight-week marathon, while fun, is starting to get really, really silly,’ say the Wiseguys
Last week’s English and French TV debates Powers: Now I remember why elections are supposed to be shorter than they were in the past.This eight-week marathon, while fun, is starting to get really, really silly. Perhaps the ludicrous behaviour started at last Monday night’s English language debate. Paul Martin’s crazy “Hail Mary”pass on repealing the […]
Senior civil servants encouraged to offer ‘gifts’ to Liberals: report
Hundreds of political aides could soon be looking for work in the public service, should the Liberals be defeated at the polls next Monday. Senior civil servants might have gotten a little confused about the nature of their jobs after receiving an urgent dispatch from Liberal Party headquarters. The letter, signed by Liberal Party of […]
Mr. Martin, why did you kick out Jean Chretien?
Hardcore Liberals are still asking themselves why Paul Martin forced out his predecessor and almost destroyed Canada’s natural governing party in the process. TORONTO – It’s been more than two years since Paul Martin took over the leadership of the Liberal Party and became Prime Minister of Canada, but hardcore Liberals are still asking themselves […]
