The slogan is “Our Opportunity is Here,” but the message from a B.C. government spokesman is wait until summer to find out how much it’s costing taxpayers.
The multimedia campaign launched last November 19 was budgeted at $5 million through the March 31 end of the fiscal year. But the government won’t say how much it spent. The campaign is continuing, but the government is also not disclosing the budget for its second phase or when the campaign might end.
“The total 2015-16 investment for the B.C. Services information campaign will be reported out later this year in public accounts – and will include details about the contractors involved and how much they were paid,” said Rodney Porter, spokesman for the Advanced Education ministry, in an email reply.
Last year, the public accounts were released on July 15. That will tell only part of the story. Unless the government releases additional spending information, with or without a Freedom of Information request, the costs for the 2016-17 campaign may not be known until next year’s public accounts are released in July 2017 – two months after the May 9, 2017, provincial election.
Porter said the central government’s total advertising budget for 2016-17 is $8.48 million, down from $8.49 million in 2015-16.
“Government will base its plans and budget allocation for the 2016-17 fiscal year on the continued need to inform the public about services or programs they may benefit from,” Porter said. “The 2016-17 planning and budget allocation will also be influenced by other priorities as they emerge, such as forest fire prevention or public health information.”
Delta Independent MLA Vicki Huntington slammed the BC Liberals in question period on April 14, for “a wave of political advertisements that are being paid for with [taxpayers’] own money.”
She noted the similarity of the current campaign’s script (“B.C.’s plan to protect Canada’s strongest economy is working. Balanced Budget 2016 means we can keep taxes low and invest in B.C. families”) with the BC Liberals’ 2013 campaign script (“B.C.’s strong economy is creating jobs and keeping taxes low for families. We’re protecting it with a balanced budget. …”)
Said Huntington: “You know, I support balanced budgets, but taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for government advertising that is identical to party messaging.
She pointed to auditor general reports in 1996 (under the NDP government) and 2015 that urged regulation, including a ban on political information in government communications.
In response, Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson justified the ad campaign spending by saying the government has “an obligation to make sure that all British Columbians can share in our prosperity by letting them know about the programs available to them. We are pleased and proud to do this.”
Contractors for “Our Opportunity is Here” include St. Bernadine Communications, Vizeum, Kimbo Design and Response Advertising.
Response’s president BC Liberal strategist Jatinder Rai, who was on the ICBC board of directors from 2012-14. Kimbo president Kim Pickett designed logos for Premier Christy Clark’s 2011 leadership campaign and the BC Liberal Party. Kimbo billed taxpayers $666,905 in 2013-14 and $2,301,982 in 2014-15. Rai and Pickett worked on Clark’s failed bid in 2005 for the NPA mayoral nomination in Vancouver.
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