Special interest groups are trying to influence voters as third-party advertisers (TPAs) in municipal elections. Not only is that a bad idea, it is a destructive one.
Municipal politics across Canada are party-free systems. Councillors and candidates do not identify as Liberal, Conservative, or NDP. That is because our duties include building roads, managing transit, and handling sewage — practical responsibilities that do not lend themselves to partisan ideologies.
Following changes to Ontario’s Municipal Elections Act, TPAs were first allowed to operate during Ottawa’s 2018 election. The intent was to let independent corporations, unions and individuals fund advertising campaigns to support or oppose candidates, rather than giving money directly to campaigns. Rules were established so groups with deep pockets could not drown out ordinary candidates and average citizens.
Over time, however, the TPA system has been weaponized to create slates that do not represent our cities. Instead of serving their original purpose, they have become Trojan Horses where self-serving groups masquerade as well-meaning advocates, manufacturing a partisan party system where none should exist.
As TPAs expanded across Canada, various businesses, separatist groups, and special interest organizations registered — like Progressive Toronto or, locally, Horizon Ottawa. According to Horizon Ottawa’s website, they’re an advocacy group pushing its vision of a “city that works for everyone.”
Just like the last election, Horizon Ottawa is working hard to target councillors they deem disappointments based on agenda-bending criteria. Their process is simple: release American-style attack ads online and mobilize members to pepper targeted wards with flyers spreading misinformation.
Remarkably, none of their board members live in the wards they target, yet several have posted photos of themselves canvassing there. City races are non-partisan, so why is NDP leader Avi Lewis’ press secretary, who sits on Horizon Ottawa’s board, going door-to-door interfering in local races?
Furthermore, it is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Horizon Ottawa rails against councillors accepting corporate or developer campaign dollars, yet candidates are already legally barred from accepting those cheques personally.
Meanwhile, TPAs are permitted to accept them, creating an easy loophole for unions and corporations wanting to manipulate local government. Whether Horizon Ottawa accepts these kinds of cheques remains unknown until March 30, 2027, when their financial statements must be made public.
And unlike candidates that have to follow rules very closely and protect private information that they collect, TPAs don’t have those same restrictions.
Neither of that sounds very comforting.
As a local special-interest TPA, Horizon Ottawa endorses candidates based on a narrow vision. Their tactics encourage continual protest and dysfunction over actual work. They stand for anti-community safety policing, involve themselves in geopolitical issues, and regularly attempt to dictate which flags should fly at City Hall.
But do they really represent Ottawa residents?
Many other single issue groups are far more deserving of attention, but they don’t have the ability to set up their own TPA leading to perversion of democracy, and other jurisdictions agree.
Quebec law generally prohibits third-party advertising during elections. British Columbia has tightened restrictions on their spending and registration, and Ontario has introduced administrative reforms.
It’s no mystery why we’re seeing a surge in municipal acclamations. Good people are choosing to step away rather than subject themselves and their families to the relentless personal abuse and disparaging attacks that have come to define modern campaigns.
This isn’t just a toxic workplace issue; it’s a rapid degeneration of our local democracy.
Ironically, the province of Ontario created this situation. Queen’s Park introduced TPAs, realized the system was broken and rightly eliminated them at the provincial level. Yet, they left municipal governments to fend for themselves against these exact same groups.
This double standard makes no sense. These TPAs have become their own worst enemies, serving as a toxic obstacle to civic leadership and driving quality candidates away.
That is why on Oct. 27, the day after the election and if successful, I am asking the Ford government to eliminate this loophole and ban TPAs from municipal elections once and for all.
Queen’s Park must step up, fix the rules and investigate a system that has become a horrific experience for far too many.
If it wasn’t good enough for provincial politics, it isn’t good enough for our communities.
Tim Tierney is an Ottawa city councillor seeking re-election and president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
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