Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams has registered his so-called ABC Campaign as a third party with Elections Canada in a bid to scotch Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s chances of winning a majority government.
The move allows Williams to spend up to $183,300 for the campaign aimed at convincing people to vote for any party but the Conservatives in next month’s federal election.
It’s also a sign that Williams and other members of the provincial Progressive Conservatives could take their message across Canada.
“I’m basically giving the Canadian public the benefit of my experience and the experience of Newfoundland and Labrador as a province in dealing with the federal Conservative government,” said Williams.
“And I’m saying to Canadians I’d place my trust in either Jack Layton or Stéphane Dion before I’d place it in Stephen Harper.”
Williams has not yet endorsed any party or said whether he plans to take his ABC Campaign to other provinces.
According to Elections Canada, any person or group that spends more than $500 in election advertising must register as a third party. Third parties are allowed to spend $3,366 in advertising per riding, up to a limit of $183,300 overall.
“We have to make sure that we’re abiding by the law and playing by the rules,” Williams said.
Williams took his campaign online Monday, launching AnythingButConservative.ca. The website takes direct aim at the prime minister, questioning his integrity and listing promises that Harper has not fulfilled.
The site contains promotional material showing that Harper promised during the 2006 election to remove non-renewable natural resource revenues from a new equalization formula—the source of the premier’s anger with the prime minister.
The site also contains past statements from Harper in which he referred to Atlantic Canada’s “culture of defeat.”
