B.C. politics: Opposition critical of NDP government’s online video

A video shared from the B.C. government’s social media accounts last week, singing the praises of the government’s short-term rental legislation, is being criticized by the opposition.

The online video featured a renter touting the benefits of pending new laws, and how they allowed him to find a place to live.

“I live in a really nice place now,” said the renter in the video, a man named Andrew.

The renter in the video isn’t a paid actor, and the NDP says the video cost approximately $375 to produce. Still, the opposition BC United point out its tax payers’ money footing that bill, and they say it’s not a good use of tax payer money — calling it effectively an advertisement for the NDP.

“(An) advertising budget that no other party has access to other than the governing party — to run what is very blatantly a government-centric advertisement,” said …