Liberal winner in Vancouver Granville spent twice as much on Facebook ads as NDP runner-up
In a hotly contested B.C. riding where the federal Liberal candidate defeated the NDP runner-up by less than one percentage point, the winner outspent his rival by more than double on Facebook ads.
Taleeb Noormohamed won Vancouver Granville with 34.4 per cent of the vote to 33.5 per cent for the NDP’s Anjali Appadurai – a difference of just 436 votes.
Data from Facebook shows that Noormohamed spent $13,541 advertising on the social media platform between June 27 and Sept. 24.
Meanwhile Appadurai spent $6,137 on Facebook ads in the same time period.
Conservative candidate Kailin Che came in third with 26.8 per cent of the vote, and Facebook’s records show she spent $0 advertising for her campaign on the platform.
Official Elections Canada reports, which include all campaign spending, have not yet been released.
While differences in spending on Facebook ads may provide clues about the money a candidate had access to, they are not a definitive reflection of the total resources (financial donations, in-kind donations, volunteer support, or party leader support) that each candidate had at their disposal. Furthermore, the disparities on Facebook ad spending could merely signal a difference in campaign strategy.
The race between Noormohamed and Appadurai was so tight that the CTV News Decision Desk wasn’t able to call a winner until two days after the election.
In another tight race – Richmond Centre, where the Liberals unseated the Conservative Party’s Alice Wong – the spending on Facebook ads was also disparate. Liberal candidate Wilson Miao won with 39.3 per cent of the vote, and spent $1,845 between June 27 and Sept. 24, while Wong, who captured 37.1 per cent of votes, spent $721 in the same time period, according to Facebook.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.