Campaign ad watch
Promises, promises
Presented by your future debate-free zone
ABOVE THE FOLD
Just three days to go before E-Day and Ontario’s political parties are going full-tilt when it comes to advertising — and mudslinging. They’re also putting some numbers behind their splashy promises. Let’s dig in.
AD WATCH — The Grits are making it rain on social media, forking out over $840,000 on Meta ads over the last 30 days, according to Facebook’s ad library disclosures.
By the numbers: The Grits — who have been steadily closing the polling gap with the PCs (though not enough to knock them off majority status) — are spending more than the other parties combined. The PCs coughed up about $190,000 between January 23 and February 21, while the NDP’s page spent an estimated $170,000.
“The ads are clearly working,” one Liberal war room operative insisted, pointing to recent polling numbers that suggest the Liberals are closing in on the PCs and overtaking the NDP.
Asterisk: These numbers only reflect the central party and leaders’ campaigns. They don’t capture local candidates’ advertising spending.
On primetime: The PCs, Liberals, and (to a lesser extent) the NDP have been blitzing ads on primetime, too, including during the Superbowl and 4 Nations hockey games. The NDP also debuted a fresh promo over the weekend that will air on radio, tv and streaming services:
Bad ads: Meanwhile, from Global News: “More than two dozen television commercials, funded by Ontario taxpayers, were paused during the election period after the province’s auditor general deemed the advertising was ‘designed to promote the governing party’ rather than the province itself.”
A message from Therme Canada:
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WHERE THE LEADERS ARE AT
PCs…11 a.m.: Fresh off a trip to Washington and a swing through the North, DOUG FORD is in Toronto to accept another union endorsement and take questions. He’ll meet with union workers in Mississauga and Brampton, too. Ford also promised a costed PC platform today. More on that momentarily.
NDP…3:20 p.m.: MARIT STILES is glad-handing around Windsor, Sarnia and London.
Liberals…9:30 a.m.: BONNIE CROMBIE is hanging out in the capital and will make an announcement in Ottawa-Vanier.
Greens…11 a.m.: MIKE SCHREINER is stumping in cottage country, with stops in Parry Sound-Muskoka and a local OSSTF rally.
CLIPPINGS
— PROMISES, PROMISES: We’re getting a costed platform from the PCs after all — but if DOUG FORD’s weekend response was any indication, there may not be much meat on the bone.
From the Canadian Press: “Ford offered little clarity Sunday on how he would pay for billions of dollars in promises if re-elected, as looming tariffs from the U.S. continue to keep economic stability at the forefront of the election campaign.”
Hint, hint: My sources suggest the platform would be something akin to “budget-lite”. Other provinces have been baking in tariff-related contingencies for their own budgets, so we could also see something similar from the PCs.
Better late than never: The NDP and Liberals also released costed platforms on Friday, smack dab in the middle of advance polls. Upshot, via CP: “Ontario’s NDP and Liberals are both pledging tens of billions of dollars in new spending to pay for their campaign promises, but are taking different approaches to the other side of the ledger, with the NDP proposing wealth taxes and the Liberals eyeing ‘efficiencies.’”
Crombie, meanwhile, is catching flak for this clip of her fumbling questions about the platform.
— D.C. LATEST: “A frustrated DOUG FORD admitted he’s fighting an uphill battle to change the hearts and minds of American lawmakers in his clash against President DONALD TRUMP’s threatened tariffs.” The Star had boots on the ground.
Meanwhile: Sun columnist BRIAN LILLEY sat down with STEVE BANNON, ex-Trump advisor, to glean some insight on what the prez is thinking.
— CODE RED: “DOUG FORD promised to end hallway medicine. But Ontario’s ER wait times have gotten worse in the past three years, confidential report shows.” The Star reports.
— BIG CUTS ON CAMPUS: “Post-secondary schools are cutting programs across Ontario. Should it be a bigger election issue?” CBC digs in.
Shameless-self promotion: I joined TVO’s #onpoli podcast crew to talk about the state of play in the final days of the campaign. Check it:
SPOTTED ON THE STUMP:
Federal Conservatives door-knocking in Ontario for, ahem, PIERRE POILIEVRE (as the PCs hire paid canvassers)…Heavyweight PCs like STEPHEN LECCE, PRABMEET SARKARIA and DAVID PICCINI rubbing shoulders with donors at SILVIA GUALTIERI’s big-ticket fundraiser in Mississauga East-Cooksville, where Grit captain BONNIE CROMBIE is running…Ex-NDPer LAURA MAE LINDO at Independent SARAH JAMA’s campaign launch…PCs continue to hammer on Liberal candidates after they dropped Oshawa contender VIRESH BANSAL…Voters forced to get creative when lawn signs are buried in snow…Cute MPP minis on the campaign trail.
SPOTTED AT THERME:
The staycation of your dreams….
🍽️ LUNCH SPECIAL: Grilled chicken breast with potatoes and vegetables is on tap in the basement cafeteria.
⏳ COUNTDOWN: T-minus 3 days until Election Day.