No limits on election ads by advocacy groups before official campaign

Advocacy groups looking to influence New Brunswick voters in the upcoming provincial election have about three weeks left before they come under the regulatory eye of Elections New Brunswick.

Any so-called "third-party" group — an organization that is not a political party but that wants to tell New Brunswicker to vote for or against someone — can do whatever it wants until the official campaign period begins on Sept. 19.

No rules apply until then.

"In the pre-writ period like this, we sort of have the field to ourselves, to a great deal," says Jim Emberger, a spokesperson for the New Brunswick Anti-Shale Gas Alliance, which is airing radio advertisements on stations in Moncton and Saint John.

"It's not crowded with political advertising, so we can get people, hopefully, to our website and explore further." 

A recent flyer blitz by Campaign Life Canada accusing educators of "pushing transgenderism" sparked an online debate about third-party advertising and the often-misunderstood rules that apply.

Former provincial NDP leader Elizabeth Weir questioned in posts on X, formerly Twitter, whether the flyers violated the Elections Act.

In fact, such advertising is completely unregulated and unrestricted — and legal — until the campaign begins.

The New Brunswick Anti-Shale Gas Alliance radio ads argue against Premier Blaine Higgs's frequent musings that he'd like to see shale gas development in New Brunswick – something they say would be a threat to clean air and water.

"Vote against fracking in New Brunswick," they say.

Once the campaign is underway, groups spending more than $500 on advertising during the campaign must follow rules similar to those that apply to political parties. 

They must register with Elections New Brunswick, identify themselves in any advertising and file returns with the agency disclosing any donors giving more than $100 for the ad blitz.

Donations can only be made by New Brunswick residents, corporations and unions.

Third parties can spend a maximum of $17,599.36, including a maximum of $1,759 in any single riding – preliminary estimates that Elections New Brunswick says may change depending on the number of people voting.