Liberal MLA Hal Perry Calls for Full Accounting and Repayment of Illegal Government Ads by PC Party

The PC Party should be required to refund taxpayers for the full cost of a recent advertising campaign that violated the Government Advertising Standards Act, says Liberal MLA Hal Perry.

That law is written to prevent government from using public resources to promote partisan political interests.

The Conservative government’s non-compliance with the law was confirmed in a letter received by Perry today. That finding was subsequently provided by the Auditor General to the Premier and the Minister of Finance.

On October 9, 2026, Perry submitted a complaint to the Auditor General regarding a Facebook ad posted earlier that week by the official “Prince Edward Island Government” Facebook page. The video shows Premier Rob Lantz and Finance and Affordability Minister Jill Burridge speaking about the Island Essentials Benefit, violating the law around government advertising standards. (A copy of Perry’s complaint is attached, along with the video of the ad in question.)

In a letter dated October 15, 2026, Auditor General Darren Noonan wrote that “the item of government advertising submitted to the Office of the Auditor General for examination on October 9, 2026, is not in compliance with clause 4(1)(c) of the Act.”

Perry said the decision is a troubling reminder that the PC government is more interested in serving its own political interests than serving Islanders.

“Islanders are working hard to make ends meet, and they deserve to know that every dollar of public money is being spent responsibly,” Perry said. “The Auditor General’s finding raises serious questions. Governments must be held to a standard that puts the public interest ahead of their own political advantage.”

Perry also thanked the Auditor General for reviewing the complaint and confirming that the advertisement did not meet the standards established under the Act.

“The Auditor General’s work is essential to ensuring accountability and protecting Islanders’ tax dollars,” Perry said. “I appreciate the attention given to this complaint and the importance of upholding the standards that are supposed to govern how public money is spent.”

SEE LETTER       SEE THE AD