Port Moody-Coquitlam Conservative candidate Tim Laidler and his election support workers are taking aim at radio ads they says unfairly criticize him and people he knows.
The ads by SumOfUs Canada charge Laidler hasn't been asking critical questions about Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline and hired a communications specialist for Trans Mountain to work on his nomination campaign.
But a statement to the Tri-City News from Laidler's office — Laidler was not available for a phone interview — said the ad suggesting that he is controlled by resource sector companies is"completely untrue and unfounded" and is an attempt to "personally smear Tim and people he knows."
The statement goes on to say that the Conservative Party does not take positions on specific applications for energy infrastructure until an independent review is complete and is relying on the National Energy Board for recommendations.
"The Conservative government has been clear that projects will only proceed if they are safe for Canadians and safe for the environment," the statement continues.
The ad running on CKNW, Rock 101, CFOX and AM730 questions whether Laidler cares about the environment. Media spokesperson for SumOfUs Canada Society, Emma Pullman, stated in a press release that the public deserves to know about relationships between industry and politicians.
On its website SumOfUs calls itself a new world-wide movement for a better global economy and lists campaigns against the Trans-Pacific free trade deal, among other issues.
But according to Laidler's campaign, the organization is a far left wing special interest group that is partisan in support of his NDP opponent Fin Donnelly.
However, the SumofUs Canada doesn't mention the NDP or Donnelly.
The radio ads are being aired as the Conservatives are being criticized for an ad campaign targeted at Chinese and Punjabi-speaking voters in Vancouver and Toronto that claims Liberal leader Justin Trudeau supports the sale of marijuana to children, the expansion of safe injection sites and the establishment of neighborhood brothels, claims the Liberals have stated are not true.
