An environmental group broke election rules by sponsoring partisan ads for the carbon tax, says Blacklock’s Reporter..Canadians for Clean Prosperity of Toronto in 2019 sponsored website posts, Facebook ads and YouTube videos also questioned opponents’ integrity..“They contained messages that opposed the Conservative Party and the Bloc Québécois or the leaders of these registered parties, including by naming them,” Commissioner of Elections Yves Côté said in a statement..Advocacy groups that fund partisan election advertising must register with Elections Canada..Clean Prosperity was not fined..“The failure to register and to file the third party final expenses were the result of a mistaken belief the activities carried out by Canadians for Clean Prosperity were not regulated by the (Elections Canada) Act,” said Côté..Michael Bernstein, the group’s executive director, denied wrongdoing..“We are advocates for a carbon tax and rebate policy, but we do not support or oppose any political party,” Bernstein said in an interview at the time..“We are not doing any advertising during the election period so the provision does not apply to us..“We’ve been working closely with our legal counsel. The issues-based messaging and advocacy you’re referring to is not regulated activity. Organizations can advocate for an issue they care about. They just can’t support or oppose a political party.”.That year’s election campaign got underway September 11, 2019..One week into the campaign the group maintained a website page called Debunking The Myths that claimed opponents of the carbon tax were “intentionally” ignoring positive aspects of the 12-cent a litre charge on gasoline..“Some critics have come out vocally against the carbon tax and rebates,” read the statement..“But their attacks on the policy are quite misleading.”.Clean Prosperity also broadcast YouTube videos including one depicting a “fake news” editorial meeting:.Editor: “Alright, what’s the problem now?”Employee: “It looks like eight out of 10 people will actually benefit from the carbon tax…”Editor: “How are we going to fake our way out of this? Wait. The number eight in Swahili is ‘nane’. And ‘nane’ sounds like – ”Employee: “None!”.Clean Prosperity under the name “Fair Path Forward” also published a website Checklist For Voters stating: “Any credible climate change plan has to include a carbon tax and rebate that gradually increases over time,” a Liberal Party policy, “and a clear plan to meet or exceed Canada’s international climate commitments under the Paris Accord. That’s it. Any credible plan has to include a carbon tax.”.The ads did not disclose Canada has never met or exceeded its greenhouse gas emission targets, according to the Commissioner of Environment.
