The Alberta NDP is launching the biggest TV campaign of its history during the Academy Awards on Sunday.
The ads, which show the Tory and Liberal leaders literally "in the pocket" of oil companies, cost $20,000 to produce but the price of air time is about $140,000.
"Big oil has some political leaders right in their pockets," says the female announcer in the ads. "Only one leader will stand up to big oil and put your family's needs before corporate greed. Brian Mason and Alberta's NDP. On your side."
The commercials will run through the week during popular daytime shows like Oprah, but the party could only afford to air them in Edmonton and northern Alberta.
"We're not advertising in Calgary. It's unfortunate that we can't do that," NDP Leader Brian Mason said Friday. "We're still very optimistic that we're going to win seats in Calgary, but unfortunately we just don't have the resources to do a comprehensive enough buy in both cities."
The TV campaign was made possible after four years of fundraising, said a party official. The NDP's budget for this election is $750,000.
With files from the Canadian PressRelated
Alberta Votes 2008 »
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- Political tide turns in Edmonton
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Riding Profiles
More Alberta Votes Headlines »
- It's 'Ed's Empire' after Alberta election sweep
- Political observers in Alberta are calling it remarkable and opposition politicians are wondering what hit them after Ed Stelmach guided his Conservative party Monday to one of its biggest majorities ever.
- Low voter turnout in Alberta election being questioned
- As Premier Ed Stelmach and Alberta Conservatives savour their sweeping election victory, some people are raising a nagging concern: why so few people bothered to vote.
- Albertans elect historic 11th straight Tory government
- Voters in Alberta stuck with tried-and-true blue, giving the Progressive Conservative party an unprecedented 11th consecutive majority government in Monday's provincial election.
- Political tide turns in Edmonton
- Alberta Progressive Conservative Leader Ed Stelmach has proven true to his word, putting the "Ed" back in Edmonton.
- Conservatives' Calgary fortress resists change
- The Progressive Conservatives' fortress in Calgary stood strong as the party took 18 of the city's 23 ridings Monday night.
