Attack Ads win Elections - JRN300 - T.Elliott

By: Devin R. Heroux

The recent call for a byelection in the Saskatoon Northwest constituency on Oct. 18 should have brought an end to a Saskatchewan Party attack advertisement. However, the ad kept running.
The ad shows excerpts from legislative proceedings involving New Democratic Party, Dwain Lingenfelter. Under the Rules and Procedures of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, “the use of the audio-video tapes of the legislative proceedings shall be forbidden during any Saskatchewan provincial election or by-election.”
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, announced the byelection on Sept. 22 to fill the vacant seat left by the departure of MLA Serge LeClerc. According to New Democratic Party House Leader, Kevin Yates, the Sask. Party continued to run the ad until Sept. 26. Yates says this government continues to walk a fine line when it comes to respecting the rules of government.
“The bottom line is that this government knowingly and willingly went ahead with the ad when they knew it was against the rules and law. If they don’t respect the rules why should anyone else?,” said Yates.
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Don Toth, also a Sask. Party MLA, denies that the government disrespected the rules of government. Toth’s duties include notifying the Legislature when rules need clarification, and said this situation is a perfect example.
“This is a clear issue. And the important thing to note is that it’s a rule, not a law. I asked the Sask. Party to remove the attack ad with the audio-video clip in it, and they did. It’s a very simple matter.”
The Sask. Party maintains this is just another case of the NDP trying to make negative news out of a non-issue. Sask. Party House Leader, Dan D’Autremont said making a big deal out of something this insignificant is petty and looks bad on the NDP.
“This is clearly NDP spin, just more negative NDP spin. They are making a mountain out of what really is a non-issue.”
Lost in all of this is the importance of the by-election, which will bring up much debate until constituents vote on Oct. 18. D’Autremont says this recent NDP complaint will not stop his party from using ads during this by-election.
“All across North America, everybody hates attack ads,” said D’Autremont. “But they work.”