The cost of government advertising is once again spiraling out of control. This time it is the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation (MLC) with their Jekyll and Hyde advertising routine. A solution to all of this may lie to the East of us in Ontario.

Documents obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) through Freedom of Information (FIPPA) show that MLC, a publicly funded Crown corporation whose mission is "to provide a fun and entertaining gaming experience in a socially responsible manner to generate benefits for all Manitobans," spent over $5.6 million in advertising since 2000.

Between 2000-01 and 2003-04 general awareness advertising totaled over $4.3 million; during the same time frame, funding for the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba increased by $211,000 spending over $1.8 million in 2003 alone. Manitoba Lotteries' responsible gaming expenditures and advertising total $1.54 million over the four-year span.

With the province-wide smoking ban set for later this fall and a projected $20 million revenue shortfall, the CTF is raising the red flag on more advertising dollars being spent. And we're asking if it is appropriate for a government agency to promote gambling and at the same time police it.

The NDP government is trying to have it both ways. On one hand they claim to be concerned about families and the negative effects addictive gambling can have. On the other hand, they are investing a great deal of money on advertising, not to mention the $100 million to buy brand new, state of the art VLT machines.

When he was sitting in the Opposition benches, Gary Doer blasted the former Filmon government for making gaming too high a priority. Now that he is at the helm, Premier Doer has finally learned that provincial coffers rely heavily on gaming revenue. Aside from the obvious that gaming as an economic development strategy is rather narrow in scope, it is time to address the bigger picture of government advertising and Manitoba could learn a lot from our neighbors in Ontario.

Prior to becoming Premier of Ontario Dalton McGuinty proposed legislation that government advertising would be limited to "information in the public interest". Governments would be banned from using the premier's name or image in any advertising as well as the name or image of cabinet ministers and provincial legislators. In addition, all government advertising would display the total cost of the campaign and include the words "paid for by the taxpayers of Ontario". Ontario's Integrity Commission (equivalent to Manitoba's Conflict of Interest Commissioner) would be granted power to judge whether ads are acceptable and to enforce the law. The governing political party would be responsible for reimbursing taxpayers for the cost of ads deemed unacceptable.

Although there may be merit to MLC advertising to those in our community with a gambling addiction, how does one justify over $4 million tax dollars then going to promote the same? This is a question only the Minister responsible for the Lotteries Corporation can answer. Might be worth a phone call to get some sort of response. Call Hon. Scott Smith at 204.945.0067.

Adrienne Batra is Provincial Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation