Broadcasters must use caution when using terms like "illegal campaign contributions", says CBSC

OTTAWA – Broadcasters should be careful when using the words “illegal campaign contributions”, said the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) in a decision on Wednesday.The CBSC examined a complaint concerning the broadcast of a PC Party provincial election advertisement that accused the NDP of accepting “illegal” campaign contributions from unions. A listener who heard the ad on CJLS-FM (Yarmouth) on June 6, 2009 complained that the ad inappropriately characterized the NDP’s activities as “illegal”. During the election campaign, it was alleged that the NDP was in possession of “illegal campaign contributions” because the Nova Scotia Members and Public Employees Disclosure Act...