According to Canadian law: "An advertisement will contravene the law if it contains a representation that is either false or misleading."
What if the copy is literally true? "Even though each statement in an ad may be literally true, an offence can still arise if the "general impression" conveyed by the ad is misleading."
So how are the Conservatives getting away with deliberately lying in their ads?
Case in Point - suggesting that Michael Ignatieff voted in favour of a $75.00 iPodtax. James Moore even set up an entire website dedicated to the notion. This despite the fact that it is absolutely untrue. A LIE.
Has anyone ever challenged these ads based on false advertising? They have many like that, where they just make stuff up and hope it sticks.
Today Michael Geist says: There’s no Liberal iPod tax, but here’s the Tory one
A closer examination of the issue reveals that not only have the Liberals rejected a new levy on iPods, but the Conservatives’ copyright bill would have likely led to a doubling of the current levy on blank CDs.So who can launch a truth in advertising investigation into Conservative ads that are not only misleading but absolutely untrue? Can citizens or do we need a lawyer?
I could be mistaken but I believe that truth in advertising does not apply to political ads.
ReplyDeleteYou're probably right, but it should. I was just trying to make a point. How can we trust a government when they base an ad campaign on a complete lie?
ReplyDelete