Over $50K in budget ads provides 'best value' to taxpayers, says Paul Davis

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Paul Davis is defending a recent media campaign meant to explain the government's latest budget.

Liberal Leader Dwight Ball brought the issue up in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, asking Davis what the price tag is on a recent flurry of radio and digital ads that outline budget details.

"Government is taking a page from Stephen Harper's playbook on elections and turning taxpayer-funded ads to promote their Budget," said Ball.

Davis cites changing media landscape

Davis said the traditional method of sending out flyers and print media is simply not enough in the media landscape of 2015, and that it is now it is necessary to use online methods to get that information to the public.

"What we found is by using current means, using electronic means and using local media, Mr. Speaker, online tags and so on, that we can provide better, clearer information," he said.

"With access directly to our website so people can get the facts about the great budget that we brought down."

Davis said investing in those means is not easy or cheap, but that spending over $50,000 was justified given the amount of people the information will reach.

"We want to make sure the people of the province get the best value," he said.

"We are spending about the same money we spent in the last budget, the budget before and so on — about a $50,000 range."

Ball also blasted the promotion campaign as being misleading, saying it does not bring enough attention to the impending HST increase.