According to small print at the bottom of the billboard, the message was authorized by True North Strong & Free Advertising Corp

A billboard that has popped up along the Bedford Highway was purchased by a third party.

It's one of many that have appeared in cities across the country showing People's Party of Canada (PPC) leader Maxime Bernier with the message, "Say no to mass immigration."

According to small print at the bottom of the billboard, the message was authorized by True North Strong & Free Advertising Corp.

The Executive Director of the PPC has confirmed to Rogers Media that they had nothing to do with the billboard.

The Canadian Press is reporting True North Strong & Free is run by Frank Smeenk, the chief executive of a mining exploration company based in Toronto.

The group filed interim financial returns with Elections Canada that show it spent $59,890 on billboards in "select cities in Canada" and received $60,000 from Bassett & Walker International Inc., a company that specializes in the international trade of protein products.

Earlier this week, Smeenk declined to comment on the billboard beyond what appeared in the Elections Canada filing.

The PPC told Rogers Media they have had no contact with True North Strong & Free, but refused to say whether the party or its leader supports the message on the advertisement.

Wtih files from Rogers Media and the Canadian Press