The Conservatives unveiled new radio spots in which they call on “all MPs” to get to work on the economy. It's an anti-coalition ad.
We've asked the Conservative Party what radio stations are playing this ad but they won't say.
Some of my more cynical colleagues suggest that the Party tells the Parliamentary Press Gallery that they're releasing these ads and then the media immediately puts them on their television or radio programs for free (as my old friends at CTV Newsnet just did).
So before I say any more about these ads, I'd like to know where they're playing. You can help: If hear one, tell me what the station is, the time, and what you thought of them.
In the interests of full disclosure, you should also report on the radio ads being run by the Canadian Labour Congress lobbying for the “alternative budget”.
The CLC ads actually are running – in Alberta, I believe, and out here on the West Coast. The CPC ads have apparently only just been released, so no hearings yet.
Thanks, Jad. I didn't know about the CLC's campaign. Of course, the CLC, NCC, Fraser Institute, Polaris Institute – name your favourite advocacy group — doesn't have to tell us a thing about where their money comes from and has few restrictions on the kind and nature of ads they can run.
Political parties, on the other hand, operate under different disclosure rules and, as a result, we tend to be more interested in advertising they engage in.
And here's the real full disclosure: As an employee of a mainstream media organization, I heartily endorse any and all advertising spending during this period of economic uncertainty. 🙂
Heard one this morning on CFRA, sometime between 8:20 and 8:40. Was only listening with one ear, but it sounded in much the same vein as the conversation ads that the Conservative Party ran last year. I found the concept a bit contrived then and still do. But that's just me.
I take your point, David, but with all due respect, while the NCC, Fraser Institute and Polaris Institute regularly issue media releases i have been unable to find any radio or TV ads that they have run, but perhaps you can correct me. These ads by the CLC seem to be a bit of an escalation over what the normal (?) advocacy groups are able to do, and given that the message is essentially what the NDP/Coalition are putting forward, I think it raises some questions about funding.
I'm not sure if your union is part of the CLC, but how do you feel about union dues being used for this kind of thing ?
Monday January 19th. I was listening to one on either 680 news in TO or 96.7 Chym FM in Kitchener that seemed to be saying that a budget has been put to parlament and we need to get it approved. I ended up here trying to find a copy of it on line to see if my ears were deceiving me.
A late reply on the topic.
I heard the ad described in the Toronto area at about 9:45 p.m. on Jan 25 on 680 News.
It does seem odd that the ad was running when statements are being made like this from the G & M for Monday Jan 26 (attributed to a “senior government official”):
“”There's a sense now that now's not the time for gimmicks,” said the Tory. “We just have to appear serious at this stage. We can't appear to be poking our fingers in people's eyes.”