NDP uses Russian stock video after criticizing Tories for same

The New Democrats recently faced scrutiny after using a stock video from Russia in a video announcement, just weeks after criticizing the Conservative Party for a similar misstep. In the video, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh declared the end of the supply and confidence deal with the Liberal government, while accusing Conservative policies of negatively impacting Canadians, particularly retirees. The stock video featured two seniors, which was later verified to originate from Russia, including their presence on a Russian university's website as faculty members. In response to the backlash, the NDP stated that they sourced the image from a North American stock service, which did not disclose the video's origin. They acknowledged the oversight and promised to exercise more caution in the future. Despite the controversy, the video remains available on the NDP's social media platforms. This incident follows the NDP's condemnation of the Conservative Party for using non-Canadian stock images, including footage of Russian fighter jets, in their own video. The Conservatives removed their video after facing public criticism, attributing the error to a common mistake while referencing a past Liberal ad that also faced scrutiny for similar reasons. Government House leader Karina Gould expressed concern over both parties' lack of diligence in using authentic Canadian imagery in their political messaging. She emphasized the need for political parties to focus on genuine Canadian content rather than prioritizing their political agendas, contrasting this with the Liberal government's commitment to addressing the needs of Canadians.