News Release – Jones: Reintroduces Legislation to Stop Taxpayer Funded Partisan Ads

(Queen’s Park)  –  Today, Sylvia Jones reintroduced legislation to restore the Auditor General’s ability to stop the government spending tax dollars on partisan advertising, the End the Public Funding of Partisan Government Advertising Act, 2018. The prorogation of the legislature on March 15^th means that all legislation needs reintroduced and run through the legislative process again.

“In 2015, the government watered down the ability of the Auditor General to oversee and stop partisan government advertising. According to the Auditor General’s 2017 report, the Wynne Liberals spent $17.4 million on partisan and self-congratulatory government advertising which would not have been approved by the previous rules.” said Jones.

“An example provided by the auditor include a $3 million infrastructure campaign which the auditor said were “self-congratulatory and aimed at ensuring the government gets credit for its potential future spending plans,” said Jones.

“This is just another example of the Wynne Liberals not respecting taxpayers,” said Jones.

“The PC Party has committed to restoring Auditor General oversight of government advertising, but last time the Liberal’s voted down this legislation. Reintroducing this important legislation is a second chance for the Liberals to do the right thing and ensure that taxpayer dollars are respected and ensure oversight is to the Auditor General,” said Jones.

“Despite the Liberal government proroguing the legislature for political reasons, I will continue to use every opportunity to fight for the legislation I believe will make a difference to the people of Dufferin-Caledon,” said Jones.