The Spectator will not remove an opinion piece from its website by LRT advocate Ryan McGreal after an allegation from Vito Sgro's mayoral campaign that the newspaper violated third-party advertising rules.

Sgro's campaign asked the Spectator to "take down" the opinion piece, which criticized the anti-LRT's candidate's platform as a "stack of falsehoods and misleading oversimplications." An email to The Spectator said a formal complaint to the provincial government "is pending."

The campaign suggested the newspaper effectively made a "gift in kind" to "McGreal's partisan advertising campaign." A spokesperson later clarified the civic affairs blog, Raise the Hammer, could be viewed as a form of advertising against Sgro. (A version of the op-ed is also on the blog.)

The Spectator was not paid to publish the opinion piece and will not remove it from online publication.

"The Spectator sought and received legal advice which supports our position - the commentary in question in no way violates the third-party advertising rules," said managing editor Howard Elliott.

New 2018 municipal election rules forbid corporations and unions from spending money to campaign for or against candidates unless they are registered as official third-party advertisers. Individuals can also register to independently advertise for or against candidates.

McGreal runs a civic affairs blog and helped found the grassroots Hamilton Light Rail Initiative, which is supportive of the $1 billion LRT plan currently stalled by election debate in Hamilton.

McGreal said he was troubled by the allegation against the newspaper, which he views as an attempt to muzzle free speech.

He reiterated he didn't pay to publish the opinion piece. He also emphasized all citizens have the right to comment on important civic matters and criticize current or aspiring elected officials. "If you're not allowed to do that, we don't live in a liberal democracy any more," he said.

Sgro made news in a different way Friday by sending a plane soaring above the city dragging a banner message that read: No LRT: Vito Sgro 4 Mayor.

- A platform built on falsehoods