The Alberta Federation of Labour says it’s being forced to shut down one of it’s websites to comply with a law that undermines free speech.
The federation along with other advocacy groups host a website called “Better Way Alberta”.
The website blames tax and royalty giveaways by Conservative governments as the reason for the downturn in the province’s economy.
Federation president Gil McGowan says Alberta’s Chief Electoral Officer has ruled the website will have to come down once an election is called.
“What he is saying is that any website posted by any group that talks about government policy in a way that could be seen as political or critical of the government would have to be taken down because it constitutes political advertising, therefore would be subject to the third party advertising rules,” he said.
This is the first election in Alberta where third-party organizations are prevented from advertising.
McGowan says it is absurd to put websites in the same category as paid ads.
He has sent a letter asking the premier to intervene and to provide an assurance that the AFL or any other advocacy group will not be prosecuted for content posted on their websites.
The AFL said it will also consider legal recourses such as challenging the Elections Act on the grounds that it violates the right to free speech guaranteed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
