Non-partisan Advertising Standards

The Non-partisan Advertising Standards require all core B.C. government informational advertising (STOB 67) be reviewed against non-partisan advertising review criteria before it is released for publication or broadcast.

Advertising campaigns with budgets over $250,000 are required to undergo a mandatory non-partisan review conducted by Advertising Standards Canada (ASC), a not-for-profit organization that administers the Canadian Code of Advertising.

Effective April 1, 2019, the Non-partisan Advertising Standards for B.C. government advertising:

• Ensures that core government advertising focuses on the responsibility to inform, engage and interact with British Columbians regarding:
  • government priorities, programs, policies and services; 
  • public entitlements, rights and obligations; and, 
  • risks to public health, safety and the environment.
• Establishes clear non-partisan advertising review criteria and process with independent, expert review by Advertising Standards Canada.
• Establishes a clear process for review of government compliance to the Non-partisan Advertising Review Process by Office of the Auditor General of British Columbia.
• Ensures core government informational advertising (STOB 67) funds are not used for partisan purposes.

Advertising Standards Canada (ASC) Results and Decisions

Advertising Standards Canada (ASC) Results and Decisions are published as they become available.

Exclusions

The Non-partisan Advertising Standards do not apply to:

• Statutory Advertising (STOB 68);
• Advertising of an urgent public health and/or safety nature; 
• Government employment/recruitment advertising;
• Advertising that comes under the authority of the Offices of the Legislature.