ABSTRACT
One analyst observes that despite the belief that negative ads usually depress voters, it appears they can create the opposite effect as well. This observation was based on the higher turnout rate in 2015, a 7.4% increase according to Elections Canada and swooping victory for the Liberal Party of Canada, despite its leader, Justin Trudeau, being the brunt of negative advertising, or “attack ads.” Many factors are at play in the electoral process, which gives political scientists many things to examine in the democratic exercise. Political pluralism in Canada entails that various interests will be voiced by means of political advertising. There are five components to Part 16 of the Canadian Election Act on communication: “Interpretation,” “Election Advertising,” “Election Opinion Surveys,” “Broadcasting Outside of Canada” and “Political Broadcasting,” with the latter requiring the most space. First and foremost, it is necessary to outline what constitutes political advertising in Canada.
