Real Change: A New Plan For a Strong Middle Class (page 26)

"Effective immediately, Advertising Standards Canada (ASC) – the national not-for-profit organization committed to ensuring the integrity of advertising – will conduct independent and public reviews of government ads against the definition of “non-partisan communications” now outlined for the first time in the communications policy of the Government of Canada.

Furthermore, the Policy now prohibits the advertising of government programs that have yet to be approved by Parliament, and no advertising can take place in the 90 days before a fixed general election date.

The Government has asked the Office of the Auditor General to conduct an audit of this interim non-partisan review mechanism to evaluate its effectiveness.  His office will determine the scope and timing of the audit." (Press release, May 12, 2016)

« Policy on Communications and Federal Identity »

"The 2015 Liberal election platform promised to create an advertising commissioner, housed in the federal auditor general's office, to review all government ads, but Thursday's interim measures fell short of that commitment.

Instead, the government will pay $65,000 annually to have Advertising Standards Canada — the private ad industry's self-regulating body — review all government ads.

Brison said the auditor general has been asked to audit the program and that feedback will be used to draft legislation entrenching the changes at some future date."

Liberals announce new rules to limit government advertising, May 12, CBC

"With the launch of the Policy on Communications and Federal Identity on May 11, 2016, a new oversight mechanism for advertising came into effect – the non-partisan review. All government advertising campaigns with budgets over $500,000 must be reviewed to ensure that creative materials are non-partisan. Campaigns with smaller budgets may also be voluntarily submitted for review.The Policy on Communications and Federal
Identity establishes the following criteria for non-partisan advertising:
> It is objective, factual, and explanatory;
> It is free from political party slogans, images, identifiers, bias, designation, or affiliation;
> The primary colour associated with the governing party is not used in a dominant way, unless an item is commonly depicted in that colour; and
> Advertising is devoid of any name, voice or image of a minister, Member of Parliament or senator."

(2016 to 2017 Annual report on Government of Canada advertising activities - Government of Canada)