Manitoba labour leaders say new election ad rules unfair
Posted June 29, 2019 12:15 pm.
WINNIPEG – Some Manitoba labour leaders say they are facing unfair advertising limits for the upcoming provincial election, because of rule changes made by the Progressive Conservative government.
Until recently, so-called third-party advertising was almost wide-open in Manitoba.
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Unions, business groups and others were free to spend as much as they wanted to promote their issues, as long as the ads didn’t mention a specific candidate or party.
But new rules for the September 10th election will limit third-parties to 25-thousand dollars in campaign-period ads if they take a position with which a party or candidate is associated.
The Manitoba Nurses Union says the new wording is so broad, the union may not be able to raise concerns about health care because some political parties will as well.
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The Manitoba Federation of Labour, which is fighting for a higher minimum wage, says election campaigns are supposed to be a good time to raise issues.
Premier Brian Pallister says the rules are fair, and ensure that people can make their voting decisions without undue influence.
