The Opposition New Democrats say they have filed a complaint with the ad industry's self-regulatory watchdog, calling for a review of a new government ad touting a loan for apprentices because it contains "misleading" information.

The complaint comes after CBC News reported that a new ad, claiming the Canadian economy will need "one million skilled tradesmen and women" over the next decade, was unsupported by independent forecasts and even the government's own projections.

The government pointed CBC News to "a combination of industry estimates" to support its claim, but a closer look at those estimates showed Canada will need mainly high-skilled workers.

Jinny Sims, the NDP critic for employment and social development, said she filed a complaint on Monday with Advertising Standards Canada, the national not-for-profit advertising self-regulatory body, asking for a review of the ad.

"We're asking them to review it and if the ad doesn't meet the standards — absolutely this government needs to pull the ad.

"They've got to stop playing games with public dollars," Sims said in a telephone interview on Monday.

Alexandra Fortier, the spokeswoman for Employment Minister Jason Kenney, denied that the ad is misleading.

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