The Government of Alberta went across Canada with a big radio buy last week, according to media monitoring data from AdEase for Sept. 25 to Oct. 1.

As might be expected, the provincial government was also the top advertiser in both Calgary and Edmonton. But it was also among the top ten in Toronto and Ottawa.

Some of that buy was devoted to provincial ads about the government’s plans to “explore” leaving the Canada Pension Plan in order to set up its own provincial alternative.

But a bigger portion went to a national radio buy encouraging Canadians to write to their MPs in opposition of federal electricity regulations. In August, the government released a draft of its proposed Clean Energy Regulations, which included capping the amount of emissions of electricity generation operations.

Wendy’s moved up one spot to be the second-most active advertiser nationally, followed by Shoppers Drug Mart, which increased its buy behind a campaign for a PC Optimum points event.

By category, grocery stores knocked QSRs out of the top spot, thanks to big radio campaigns from the likes of Real Canadian Superstore, Safeway and Sobeys, which is supporting its recently launched new brand platform.

All figures based on total play counts. Number in parentheses is the previous week’s rankings; (-) denotes an advertiser/category that did not rank the previous week.

Vancouver

Advertisers
1. Wendy’s Restaurant: 1422 (1)
2. Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation: 1196 (160)
3. White Spot: 1157 (17)
4. Real Canadian Superstores: 1132 (18)
5. Subway Restaurants: 1111 (3)
6. McDonald’s: 905 (7)
7. Subaru Dealers Association: 887 (6)
8. Spence Diamonds: 854 (10)
9. Uber: 808 (9)
10. Insurance Corporation Of British Columbia: 696 (15)

Categories
1. Quick Serve Restaurants: 3521 (1)
2. Dine-in Restaurants & Bars: 2142 (4)
3. Grocery Stores & Supermarkets: 1873 (6)
4. Airlines: 1317 (25)
5. Pharmacies & Drug Stores: 1285 (43)
6. Exhibitions: 1250 (24)
7. Consumer Property & Casualty Insurance: 1085 (7)
8. General Points Programs: 1000 (3)
9. Jewelry Stores: 955 (9)
10. Financial Planning: 954 (10)

Calgary

Advertisers
1. Government Of Alberta: 2318 (-)
2. Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation: 1318 (14)
3. Wendy’s Restaurant: 1211 (3)
4. Real Canadian Superstores: 1165 (16)
5. Subway Restaurants: 951 (5)
6. Sobeys: 800 (24)
7. The Dairy Farmers Of Canada: 739 (8)
8. Winners: 725 (6)
9. Specsavers Canada: 710 (450)
10. Safeway: 704 (29)

Categories
1. Grocery Stores & Supermarkets: 3324 (2)
2. Quick Serve Restaurants: 2990 (1)
3. Local Government: 2318 (-)
4. Pharmacies & Drug Stores: 1747 (15)
5. Gas Stations: 1308 (3)
6. Airlines: 1040 (26)
7. Eyewear & Optical Stores: 933 (58)
8. Financial Planning: 849 (12)
9. Food Associations: 826 (8)
10. Dental Clinic: 795 (6)

Edmonton

Advertisers
1. Government Of Alberta: 1754 (232)
2. Wendy’s Restaurant: 1175 (3)
3. Spence Diamonds: 899 (4)
4. Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation: 877 (21)
5. Safeway: 808.5 (18)
6. Sobeys: 778.5 (17)
7. Real Canadian Superstores: 695 (33)
8. Winners: 666 (7)
9. Exxon Mobil Corporation: 617 (9)
10. McDonald’s: 611 (1)

Categories
1. Grocery Stores & Supermarkets: 2814.5 (2)
2. Quick Serve Restaurants: 2608 (1)
3. Local Government: 1941 (9)
4. Jewelry Stores: 1018 (4)
5. Pharmacies & Drug Stores: 891 (17)
6. Heating & Cooling Services: 755 (8)
7. Eyewear & Optical Stores: 718 (57)
8. Unisex/General Apparel Stores: 688 (12)
9. Food Associations: 675 (13)
10. Gas Stations: 617 (10)

Ottawa

Advertisers
1. Metro: 1249 (1)
2. Desjardins Group: 1127 (3)
3. Government Of Alberta: 989 (-)
4. Wendy’s Restaurant: 837 (6)
5. Nissan Dealers Association: 754 (4)
6. Ottawa Fall Home Show: 743 (11)
7. Toyota Dealers Association: 701 (5)
8. CHEO Foundation: 671 (23)
9. Subaru Dealers Association: 662 (9)
10. Gouvernement Du Quebec: 657 (21)

Categories
1. Grocery Stores & Supermarkets: 3078 (1)
2. Local Government: 2235 (5)
3. Quick Serve Restaurants: 2143 (2)
4. Lottery Draws: 1361 (8)
5. Automotive Imports General: 1183 (10)
6. Import Suvs (Dealer Group): 1157 (3)
7. Dine-in Restaurants & Bars: 901 (9)
8. Consumer Property & Casualty Insurance: 841.5 (15)
9. Heating & Cooling Services: 799.75 (30)
10. Exhibitions: 782 (16)

Toronto

Advertisers
1. Desjardins Group: 2191 (8)
2. Metro: 1447 (2)
3. Government Of Alberta: 1435 (-)
4. Wendy’s Restaurant: 1391 (3)
5. Government Of Ontario: 1365 (7)
6. Nissan Dealers Association: 1317 (4)
7. Subway Restaurants: 1157 (6)
8. Subaru Dealers Association: 1148 (10)
9. Toyota Dealers Association: 1091 (5)
10. Real Canadian Superstores: 1091 (38)

Categories
1. Grocery Stores & Supermarkets: 5609 (1)
2. Quick Serve Restaurants: 3738 (2)
3. Local Government: 3091 (5)
4. Automotive Imports General: 2253 (6)
5. Import Suvs (Dealer Group): 2070 (3)
6. Airlines: 1668 (4)
7. Consumer Property & Casualty Insurance: 1366 (13)
8. Jewelry Stores: 1171 (7)
9. Pharmacies & Drug Stores: 965 (247)
10. Education Associations: 931 (10)

Montreal

Advertisers
1. Gouvernement Du Quebec: 1752 (1)
2. Subway Restaurants: 694 (7)
3. Boutique Mirage: 687 (3)
4. Desjardins Group: 646 (8)
5. Playojo.net: 640 (12)
6. Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation: 629 (220)
7. Playground Poker Club/montreal: 629 (5)
8. Groupe Filgo-sonic: 572 (-)
9. Le Groupe Maurice: 539 (15)
10. Iris Eye Care Centre: 530 (16)

Categories
1. Local Government: 1448 (1)
2. Pharmacies & Drug Stores: 1162.5 (6)
3. Casinos: 1129 (7)
4. Quick Serve Restaurants: 779 (3)
5. Dine-in Restaurants & Bars: 743 (10)
6. Financial Services: 710 (13)
7. Flooring Stores: 687 (9)
8. Online Casinos: 648 (17)
9. Consumer Property & Casualty Insurance: 638.5 (23)
10. Gas & Propane Distribution: 572 (-)

Quebec City

Advertisers
1. Gouvernement Du Quebec: 678 (1)
2. Toyota Dealers Association: 397 (2)
3. Ville De Quebec: 384 (5)
4. Dormez-vous Sleep Centers: 310 (4)
5. Clinique Viva: 245 (11)
6. Pieces D’auto Economiques: 242 (135)
7. Club Avantage Multi Sport: 236 (9)
8. CSST: 221 (21)
9. Brynd Smoked Meat: 218 (18)
10. Les Viandes P.P. Halle.: 218 (298)

Categories
1. Dine-in Restaurants & Bars: 1465 (1)
2. Local Government: 815 (3)
3. Kitchens And Bathrooms: 523 (8)
4. Auto Parts & Accessories Stores: 436 (114)
5. Butchers & Meat Markets: 436 (14)
6. Mattress Stores: 404 (5)
7. Spa Services: 351 (13)
8. Insurance Associations: 327 (11)
9. Contractors: 309 (56)
10. Real Estate Agent: 301 (16)

Featured image by IQRemix.