‘Say NO to mass immigration’ ads pulled, Bernier blames ‘leftist mob’
Posted August 26, 2019 7:06 am.
Last Updated August 26, 2019 8:36 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Citing overwhelming public backlash, Pattison Outdoor Advertising is removing a series of nation-wide ads promoting People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier, and his stance on immigration.
The billboards — featuring Bernier’s photo and the words “say NO to mass immigration” — had been a source of controversy after they popped up in Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, and Regina. The ads were paid for by True North Strong and Free Advertising Corp., a registered third party.
For Anne Cooper, who lives in East Vancouver near where one of the billboards popped up, the message doesn’t reflect what she thinks Canada should be.
“I don’t want that, I don’t want people attacking me or my family — you know, no to nuclear families or no to this, no I don’t want that,” she said.
And that’s all she wrote for now. The ad is gone. @NEWS957 pic.twitter.com/zdkZeKKdOM
— Dave Heintzman (@daveheintzman) August 26, 2019
Early Sunday, Pattison said in a statement the campaign did not contravene the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards, and that it was not up to the company to be “the judge or arbiter of what the public can or cannot see.”
But hours later, company president Randy Otto reversed course, saying “it was never my or Pattison Outdoor’s intention to offend, alienate or in any way insult the public by allowing this ad to be run.”
Otto promised to review the company’s advocacy guidelines relating to political messaging, and inform True North Advertising the ads will be removed as soon as possible.
“Fantastic, well good for them if they’re going to take a stand,” Cooper said after learning the billboards were being taken down due to public backlash. “It shows the power of the people.”
Well that was fast. A contractor is already here to cover up the Bernier billboard. A dog walker who lives in this area says she’s fine with it, since the message runs counter to her values @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/x2N9uwUaXz
— Kurtis Doering (@KDnewsguy) August 26, 2019
Reacting to the statement on Twitter, Bernier accused the company of caving in to the “leftist mob”, adding “the authoritarian Left want to censor and silence anyone who disagrees with them. They will fail.”
The billboards will be removed after censorship calls from the leftist mob.
The PPC is the only party that rejects mass immigration and proposes to have fewer, better integrated immigrants who fulfill our economic needs.
What do you think? Vote and RT. https://t.co/YANzKkJj8c
— Maxime Bernier (@MaximeBernier) August 25, 2019
The People Party of Canada is so far not being allowed to participate in the upcoming federal leaders’ debates. A final decision on Bernier participation will be made by mid-September.