Ontario Tories defend use of Russian images in campaign TV ad

A party spokesman said he had no idea where the footage came from but defended the commercial as current practice

The use of images from Russia in an election TV ad promoting job creation in Ontario is simply the nature of the modern advertising beast, the Progressive Conservatives said Tuesday.

While Tory Leader Tim Hudak did not immediately comment, a party spokesman said he had no idea where the footage came from but defended the commercial as current practice.

“This is the way advertising works in the 21st century: You buy stock footage from a website, you get what you need, put it into your ad _ whether it’s video or photos _ and you pump it out,” said Will Stewart, the party’s media director.

“It’s the way it works in a web-based, technology-based world.”

Part of the TV spot – called “Ontario Working Better” – features Hudak himself touting his job-creation plan over video of office workers at a computer screen.

Another shot shows teens reading in a classroom.

Both sets of images, according to the Ottawa Citizen, are sourced from a stock footage agency and come from Russia.

Stewart accused the Liberals of playing “gotcha” politics by planting the story.

“We prefer to be talking about jobs,” Stewart said.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said she had not seen the commercial and refused to discuss it.

Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne did not immediately comment either but a party spokesperson called the Tories’ claim “baseless and totally false.”

Brands Articles

30 Under 30 is back with a new name, new outlook

No more age limit! The New Establishment brings 30 Under 30 in a new direction, starting with media professionals.

Diageo’s ‘Crown on the House’ brings tasting home

After Johnnie Walker success, Crown Royal gets in-home mentorship

Survey says Starbucks has best holiday cup

Consumers take sides on another front of Canada's coffee war

KitchenAid embraces social for breast cancer campaign

Annual charitable campaign taps influencers and the social web for the first time

Heart & Stroke proclaims a big change

New campaign unveils first brand renovation in 60 years

Best Buy makes you feel like a kid again

The Union-built holiday campaign drops the product shots

Volkswagen bets on tech in crisis recovery

Execs want battery-powered cars, ride-sharing to 'fundamentally change' automaker

Simple strategies for analytics success

Heeding the 80-20 rule, metrics that matter and changing customer behaviors

Why IKEA is playing it up downstairs

Inside the retailer's Market Hall strategy to make more Canadians fans of its designs