Oil and gas ad campaign cost feds $40M at home and abroad
rbarnes
Posted On février 6, 2014
The Canadian Press
The Conservative government is spending $40 million this year to advertise Canada’s natural resource sector — principally oil and gas — at home and abroad.
Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver revealed the figure Wednesday as his department seeks another $12.9 million to augment an international campaign designed to portray Canada as a stable and environmentally responsible source of energy.
That will bring NRCan’s 2013-14 ad budget to about $40 million — $24 million for advertising abroad and $16.5 million for the domestic market.
« The government has a responsibility to provide Canadians with facts to assist them in making informed decisions, » Oliver, under opposition questioning, told a Commons committee.
« This engagement and outreach campaign will raise awareness in key international markets that Canada is an environmentally responsible and reliable supplier of natural resources. »
The entire federal government advertising budget last year was about $65 million, according to preliminary estimates, with $9 million allotted for Natural Resources.
In 2010-11, NRCan spent just $237,000 on advertising, according to the government figures.
