Third party election advertising isn’t dead yet

The controversial B.C. ”gag law” restricting third-party spending on political advertising during provincial elections, which has been dubbed as a threat to free speech, is not dead yet.

Attorney-General Mike de Jong has announced the government will appeal the BC Supreme Court decision last spring that struck down limits on third party advertising before the four week election period begins.

Law Dates Back to 1995
B.C.’s spending limits legislation dates from 1995, but was challenged successfully by the publisher of the Vancouver Sun and Province newspapers.

The B.C. Liberal government then amended the law in May 2008.

Elections BC rules define election advertising to include messages that take a position on an issue that is associated with a candidate or registered political party.

The rules, however, exclude messages sent directly to members of the ad sponsor’s group, employees or shareholders, and personal political views sent by individuals on a non-commercial basis, including text messages, phone calls and the internet.