One Nanaimo-Ladysmith campaign has taken exception to a social media advertisement which they say violates Elections Canada rules. (The Canadian Press)

By Ian Holmes

political posturing

Labour group under fire for election polling tactics after Nanaimo campaign manager sounds alarm

Sep 16, 2021 | 5:31 AM

NANAIMO — A local Green Party of Canada campaign manager is incensed with what he calls multiple credibility issues related to an NDP-friendly ad.

Ilan Goldenblatt, who’s representing Nanaimo-Ladysmith incumbent MP Paul Manly, filed an official complaint for what he called flagrant misleading messaging portrayed by the Canadian Labour Congress.

The union lobbyist, through its third party source Fairness Works, recently published a Facebook ad suggesting a Sept. 5 poll showed the NDP was leading the Nanaimo-Ladysmith riding. The ad was accompanied with: ‘The best way to beat the Conservatives in Nanaimo-Ladysmith is to vote NDP.’

The ad did not contain information required by Elections Canada about survey methodology, including how many people were polled or the margin of error.

“None of that information was included in the Fairness Works ad, that was the first thing that jumped out at me,” Goldenblatt told NanaimoNewsNOW, who first noticed the ad on Monday, Sept 13.

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This ad purported to be compiled by an Ottawa firm caught the eye of Ilan Goldenblatt. (Facebook)

Missing pertinent details about how the poll was conducted isn’t the only controversy the ad is generating.

The company credited with conducting the poll, Ottawa based artificial intelligence firm Advanced Symbolics, wasn’t aware of it and had “no idea where this data came from,” according to CEO Erin Kelly.

“I am certainly following up with my legal team now that I have received this from you,” Kelly told NanaimoNewsNOW.

The company then issued a statement on its website demanding the ads be taken down.

The Fairness Works ad specific to Nanaimo-Ladysmith was no longer listed as an active paid Facebook ad as of Wednesday, Sept. 15, while several other similar ads profiling other B.C. ridings were also disabled.

Goldenblatt wondered how the ads could have impacted early voters, potentially skewing results in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith race.

“My concern is now many people watched this ad on Monday and Tuesday until it was frozen and how many people’s votes were impacted by this ad.”

Goldenblatt said he filed a complaint with the Commissioner of Canada Elections. A spokesperson with the department couldn’t comment on the status of specific complaints.

The Canadian Labour Congress didn’t respond to multiple requests from NanaimoNewsNOW for comment for this story.

The Nanaimo-Ladysmith riding is widely considered a three-party race between the Greens, NDP and Conservatives. Manly is bidding for a third consecutive election victory in Nanaimo-Ladysmith.

A poll conducted for the Green Party of Canada by Oraclepoll Research examining Nanaimo-Ladysmith showed Green candidate Paul Manly had 36 per cent support, well clear of Conservative Tamara Kronis’ 28 per cent support, and the NDP’s Lisa Marie Barron, who was backed by 25 per cent of respondents.

The poll of 500 adults were live interviews conducted between Sept 3 and 7 with a margin of error of 4.4 per cent.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes