The pre-campaign is over and B.C. is plunging deep into election mode.
Over the next few weeks, you are going to see a lot of advertising trying to convince you to vote for one party’s candidate or the other. Locally, it’s likely to be a respectable race in both the Penticton and Boundary-Similkameen ridings, but provincially, it may end up swinging to the ugly side of politics. Even before the writ was dropped, attack ads were already being seeded.
Pointing out your opponent’s voting record or historical stance on an issue is a valid topic for a political ad; that is definitely something that voters should be aware of. But when the advertising leans farther into areas like personal or party political ideology, pointing out your opponent’s shortcomings or worse, no one wins.
When you start slinging mud there is always to danger some may cling to you. Worse, you’re not educating the public. We’d rather see a campaign where the election advertising was more about ideas and building the future than just trying to tear down an opponent.
During the pre-election period, the Liberals blurred the line between government advertising and political promotion, according to B.C. Auditor-General Carol Bellringer, who also admitted that she didn’t have the power to get them to stop.
Perhaps it is time to look at election advertising legislation (again) and tighten up those rules.
Or how about an independent review panel to okay election ads, not just from the political parties, but outside organizations. There are simple tests: is it true and accurate; does it use innuendo rather than facts?
During an election campaign we, as a news source, try to bring you clear and accurate information to base your vote on. Is it asking too much that they parties vying for your vote do the same in election ads?