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A conservative political advocacy group has launched a TTC ad campaign urging federal politicians to ban Saudi Arabian oil imports.

With the campaign currently supported by radio spots, a mobile billboard and an ad-wrapped TTC streetcar, Ontario Proud founder Jeff Ballingall was surprised when CNW Group — a PR newswire service owned by Cision — refused distribution of their press release.

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“The TTC and Pattison have okayed our content, Facebook okayed our content, Google okayed our advertisements,” Ballingall said.

CNW initially approved the press release, he said, but managers then changed their minds after watching the campaign’s video, embedded on their website stopsaudioil.com.

“As discussed, we have refused the distribution of the video clip as it appears to discriminate against Saudi Arabians and consequently does not meet with our incoming copy guidelines,” wrote Cision manager Sean Kennedy in an e-mail to Ontario Proud Tuesday evening.