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Federal Liberals have introduced legislation to create a new watchdog to prevent partisan government advertising paid for by taxpayers.

Conservatives have a majority of seats in the House of Commons and could defeat any opposition legislation. But the Liberal MP who is proposing the plan says he believes his bill would appeal to grassroots members of the governing party.

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“The bottom line is there’s not a single MP I’ve talked to who can say [I’m] wrong and that we should be spending tax dollars to advertise in a partisan way,” said David McGuinty, who represents an Ottawa riding, in an interview.

The government has come under fire from opposition for spending tens of millions of dollars on various marketing campaigns touting its economic policies as well as some that allege it is “protecting the environment” and promoting “responsible” development of natural resources.

Public accounts documents recently tabled in Parliament reported at least $50 million in advertising by various departments over the past year, not including a new proposed $24-million campaign over two years for international marketing and public relations efforts to promote Canadian oil companies operating in the oilsands region of western Canada.