Ontario ad campaign 'It's Happening Here' has cost taxpayers $8M

An advertising campaign by Premier Doug Ford’s government that has been criticized as partisan self-promotion is costing taxpayers about $8 million, CBC News has learned. 

Government officials previously refused to share the cost of the high-profile “It’s Happening Here” ads, which have aired in such choice television timeslots as the Super Bowl, the Oscars, the Emmy Awards and the NHL all-star game. 

CBC News then sought to obtain the price tag through a freedom of information request. 

The response from the Ministry of Finance puts the estimated total costs for producing the ads at $3,831,352, and the media spending (such as TV and radio airtime,