Harper government buying ads to promote job grant program that doesn’t exist [View all]

[Joe Shlabotnik]

The Harper government is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars advertising a program that does not yet exist.

Prime-time ads began airing this week during NHL playoff games — currently the priciest advertising real estate on the dial — that tout a new federal Canada Jobs Grant for training workers.

The trouble is, the freshly announced program is at present little more than a concept that has yet to be negotiated with provincial governments, and requires buy-in from employers as well.

The department did not respond directly to questions about the ethics of spending public funds to advertise programs and services that do not exist.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/05/19/stephen_harper_government_buying_ads_to_promote_job_grant_program_that_doesnt_exist.html

Anyone who has ever tried to pry a nickel from the government already knew that this was bullshit. Requiring the provinces to match funds while they're all struggling with deficits: good luck. Requiring Business to invest in their workforce: good luck. Expect anything other than taxpayer funded propaganda: yeah right.