Election ads on trial

More court battles, more PC reversals

ABOVE THE FOLD

The final battle over election advertising in Ontario is underway at the country’s top court.

Yesterday, lawyers representing the Ford government and the union-backed Working Families Coalition faced off at the Supreme Court, where Ontario is appealing a lower court ruling that struck down its hot-potato law that limited third-party ad spending.

Today is intervenors day, which means other folks with skin in the game — including the Canadian Civil Liberties Association — will get their say in court.

The background: The case goes back to 2021, when the PCs invoked the notwithstanding clause for the first time in provincial history to limit third-party election ad spending, and bring in more onerous requirements for registration. The pre-campaign spending period was extended, but not the limit — which means third-party groups had to stretch the same $600,000-limit over 12 months instead of six.

What the government is arguing: Lawyers representing Ontario’s Attorney General …