Canadian TV censor has reminded broadcasters they need to fact-check paid political campaign commercials after a Nova Scotia election attack ad was found to be incorrect.

The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC), which referees the domestic airwaves as part of a voluntary system, cited a May 5, 2009 paid ad by the Progressive Conservative Party on CJLS-FM in Yarmouth that alleged the NDP accepted “illegal” campaign contributions from unions.

Responding to a listener complaint received on the same day, the CBSC investigated and found the word “illegal” was wrongly used by the PC party ad.

As a result, the broadcast watchdog on Wednesday ruled the election ad violated the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) Code of Ethics.

The CBSC’s Atlantic Canada panel reminded broadcasters they are responsible for everything they air, including advertisements.

“The CBSC has determined that the broadcast of the word “illegal” in the matter at hand was unjustified, and was neither truthful nor accurate on the basis of the information then available to the broadcaster and was, consequently, in breach of Clauses 13 and 14 of the CAB Code of Ethics,” the the panel ruled.

CJLS-FM will now have to air the CBSC decision in peak listening hours.