Unsolicited Political Text Messages Target Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck
Saskatchewan Residents Receive Unsolicited Political Text Messages Targeting NDP Leader Carla Beck
Many Saskatchewan residents have recently found their phones buzzing with unsolicited political text messages from the Sask. Party, taking aim at the Saskatchewan NDP and their leader Carla Beck. While texting can be an effective campaign tool, media experts warn that parties run the risk of annoying some voters.
The controversial video accuses NDP leader Carla Beck of traveling to Ottawa to plot an election strategy with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh in an effort to get Liberals re-elected. Beck, however, has dismissed the allegations, stating, “I grew up on a farm. I know B-S when I see it.”
Last week, the three leaders did attend a labor convention in Ottawa, but they did not share the podium together. Despite this, the Sask. Party stands by the messaging in the texts.
“This isn’t something to be taken lightly. You know, they can do what they are going to do. This is on them, the reality in this province whether that’s in education, in health care,” Beck said in response to the accusations.
While some media experts view the video as American-style politics, others criticize it for lacking any issue-based substance and instead focusing on defaming the opposing party.
“It’s another way of reaching voters at the risk of being annoying to some,” said Alec Couros, an educational technology professor at the University of Regina. “Ultimately, I think it will irritate people, but most of the people who are irritated probably are people that aren’t going to vote for you anyway.”
Despite the backlash, political parties do have the authority to send text messages to voters. The Saskatchewan Party has stated that it maintains a do not call list for those who do not wish to receive its messages.
As the election season heats up, it seems that political messaging via text will continue to be a hot topic among Saskatchewan residents.