OTTAWA—Scouts Canada officials say they didn’t agree to have some of their young members stand in uniform alongside Conservative Leader Stephen Harper during a campaign stop Friday.

The Conservatives used children in Scouts uniforms as part of a campaign event in British Columbia where Harper promised to help the province’s fisheries.

Harper was in the B.C. riding of North Island-Powell River to promise an extended partnership with the Pacific Salmon Foundation and $15 million to restore and conserve B.C. estuaries.

He said the investment will help to preserve the lower Harrison River’s salmon ecosystem.

Standing amid the picturesque backdrop for the announcement were three Scouts in uniform who stood to Harper’s right during the event.

After pictures from the announcement with the Scouts in frame were posted to social media, Scouts Canada tweeted out a reminder that its members are not allowed to be part of any political event.

Scouts Canada spokesman John Petitti said the organization is trying to ascertain what exactly happened, because the Scouts were not sanctioned to be at the event.

The Scouts Canada policy guide says that the organization “is not connected with any political body.” The policy says members in uniform, or anyone acting as a representative of Scouts Canada, “must not take part in meetings or activities of a political nature or offer support.”

Petitti said the non-partisan policy is regularly reinforced with Scouts leaders across the country.

A spokesman for the Conservative campaign didn’t say whether the party sought permission from the organization to have the Scouts at the event.

Conservative spokesman Stephen Lecce said in an email that the campaign “welcomed the participation of all who attended” the event.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Read more about: