Shit Harper Did (SHD) is looking for a job – and not just any job. The collective behind videos criticizing the Harper government has applied for a contract to produce Economic Action Plan ads in the hopes of putting a stop to "the Conservatives' wasteful ad spending."
SHD members explain why they’re right for the position in a new video.
“This time around instead of spending $113 million on your Economic Action Plan advertisements, we will make you better, cheaper ads. And then with the millions upon millions of taxpayer dollars that we save you, you can actually restore funding to programs that have been cut recently."
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Conservatives have used the Economic Action Plan brand since 2009, and the ads, which trumpet Tory initiatives, have come under fire for their cost. Some participants in an April 2012 poll called the advertisements “propaganda” and a “waste of money.”
In May, the government announced its search for an advertising firm to continue the campaign for up to three years. The ads are meant to “to inform Canadians about key initiatives, programs and benefits under Economic Action Plan 2013, which may include advertising Budget 2014.”
SHD, which posted its job application online, has quite the resume already. The group aired its commercial targeting the Economic Action Plan ads during Hockey Night in Canada spots in May, thanks to crowdfunding.
But the SHD crew is also looking for references to beef up its job application.
Nearly 3,000 have given references so far – a solid start to their goal of 10,000.
SHD’s lead community organizer (and former rabble-rouser in the Senate's page program) Brigette DePape said getting the contract would be a “long shot,” according to the Tyee.
"But even if we don't, the government can still do the right thing by producing non-partisan, actually informative ads," she said.
Would you give them a reference?