Political mudslinging gets underway in B.C.
Last Updated: Saturday, March 21, 2009 | 12:14 PM PT
CBC News
This online video takes aim at Premier Gordon Campbell and the B.C. Liberal party. (CBC) B.C.'s provincial election is almost two months away, but attack ads are already surfacing online.
Third-party organizations are using comedy to make their points and the mud is flying in all political directions.
On a website called MoveForwardBC, the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union takes a swipe at Liberal Premier Gordon Campbell in a video.
Phrases like "Did you know Gordon Campbell tried to kill your grandma?" and "Gordon Campbell hates you" are just some of the over-the-top claims in the video.
Union president Andy Ross said it's deliberately outlandish.
"If it takes a comment like this to draw attention, to make people think of it, we're prepared to do that. We think somebody has to do that," Ross said.
Campbell said Friday he hadn't seen the ads.
Union president Andy Ross says the ads are a humorous way of bringing attention to serious issues. (CBC) "I intend to deal with British Columbians like mature adults," he said.
"It's time for us to get above and way beyond the sort of personal attacks that I've experienced myself over the last number of years at the hands of the opposition."
But Campbell and the Liberal government aren't the only ones being attacked.
On the website Vote Smart BC, non-union construction companies compare the NDP to banana-republic radicals.
Dennis Pilon, a political science professor at the University of Victoria, said activist groups desperately want voters to pay attention.
"These approaches are kind of innovative ways of trying to bring them into the political discussion by using comedy, by using shock tactics, but then by reminding them, 'Hey, there's an important issue here,'" Pilon said.
B.C.'s provincial election will be held May 12.
