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“In one election cycle, third-party advertising spending has more than tripled and third-party income has more than doubled,” Essensa said in his annual report.

“The biggest third-party advertiser spent more on advertising than 19 political parties combined.”

Despite the fact the Liberals benefited most from the third-party advertising, Premier Kathleen Wynne said she was willing to consider limits during election campaigns.

“I’m very interested in looking at the recommendations and open to looking at changes that could be made,” said Wynne.

Attorney General John Gerretsen also left the door open to new spending caps.

There needs to be regulations and rules in place that make it more fair, more consistent

“The notion of putting a spending limit on third parties certainly strikes me as something that’s well worth looking into,” said Gerretsen.

The Progressive Conservatives have long complained about the Working Families Coalition, but were unsuccessful in trying to convince Elections Ontario or the courts that the group is a front for the Liberal party.

Clearly there is a need for spending limits on third parties during elections, said PC critic Lisa MacLeod.

“There needs to be regulations and rules in place that make it more fair, more consistent,” said MacLeod.

“There’s something to be said when the Working Families Coalition spends more during election campaigns without any of the rules that govern political parties.”

However, the New Democrats said spending limits should be looked at as part of a bigger review of Ontario’s election finance rules, something they said most other provinces and the federal government have already done.