The provincial New Democrats have complained to Elections Canada that the Progressive Conservative government’s mandatory gas pump stickers may violate federal campaign laws.

NDP MPP Taras Natyshak has written to Canada’s chief electoral officer Stéphane Perrault about the Tory-blue decals that will soon appear at every gasoline station in Ontario under threat of fines of up to $10,000 a day.

The stickers highlight the impact of the federal Liberal government’s carbon-pricing measures on gasoline, but they do not mention the offsetting rebates Ottawa is sending back to those affected.

“I am writing to you concerning what I believe could be a violation of Canada’s election advertising rules,” wrote Natyshak (Essex).

“As you are aware, Part 16, section 319 of the Canada Elections Act, 2000 defines elections advertising as: … ‘the transmission to the public by any means, during an election period, of an advertising message that promotes or opposes a registered party or the election of a candidate, including one that takes a position on an issue with which a registered party or candidate is associated.’ ”

The New Democrat MPP is concerned the 20-by-15-centimetre stickers will still be on pumps during the campaign period this fall.

Read more:

No details on how province will enforce gas-pump stickers

Tories launch radio ads attacking federal Liberals’ ‘carbon tax’

Opinion | Ford’s gas pump campaign a scandal that’s going to stick

“In recent weeks, the premier of Ontario has announced his intention to force Ontario gasoline retailers to display ‘anti-carbon tax’ notices on their gas pumps,” wrote Natyshak.

“These stickers are clearly advertising within the definition of the Act. They are also, clearly, partisan in their aim. In the words of the premier’s colleague, Minister of Energy, Mines, Northern Development and Indigenous Affairs Greg Rickford: ‘We’re going to stick it to the Liberals and remind the people of Ontario how much this job-killing, regressive carbon tax costs.’”

Premier Doug Ford’s Conservatives are spending $30 million, including about $1 million on a court challenge, highlighting the difference with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government over the levy.

“If the government of Ontario is taking an official position to promote both Andrew Scheer and the Conservative Party of Canada’s position on carbon pricing, and these stickers will, indeed, be on full display across the province for the duration of the election period, then Elections Canada must take action to enforce the Canada Elections Act, 2000.

“This is clearly election advertising as defined by the Act.”

The MPP wants the federal Tories to “either assume the total costs of the production and enforcement of these stickers across the province of Ontario as a campaign expense, or the government of Ontario can register themselves a third Party under … the act.”

Rickford defended the stickers on Thursday, insisting the Tories are merely countering the federal Liberal government’s claims about carbon pricing.

“This is a job-killing, regressive carbon tax. We won’t stand for it,” said the minister, criticizing federal postcards that tout the rebates to families.

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

“We think that a sticker at a gas pump with some public notices is an important way of letting the people of Ontario know how much this tax scheme is going to cost them.”

His office said about 25,000 stickers would be printed — one for each pump in Ontario — at a cost of $4,954. They will be manufactured by Astley Gilbert and there will be additional distribution and enforcement costs.

The Canadian Fuels Association, which represents the industry, has declined to comment.

Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner warned the Tory decals are misleading because they don’t explain the federal rebates or the skyrocketing cost of insurance rates due to climate change.

Robert Benzie is the Star’s Queen’s Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie

Read more about: