When the next election campaign begins, each political party will be allowed to purchase a limited number of broadcast minutes for advertising.
Under the Canada Elections Act, total air time available for purchase is 390 minutes from each broadcaster.
This year, the parties could not agree so two weeks ago, an arbitrator appointed by the Chief Electoral Officer issued his ruling.
Based on the 1993 vote, it gives the governing Liberals the lion’s share of the available time – 118 minutes.
The Reform party is allowed to be the next most visible party with 51 minutes, compared to 34 minutes for the Progressive Conservative party, 26 minutes for the New Democratic party, 11 minutes for the Marxist-Leninist party of Canada and six minutes for the Communist party.
The Natural Law Party of Canada, which promotes transcendental meditation as a solution to world problems, will be allowed to buy 17 minutes of air time.
