The Parti Québécois, which secured a minority, has vowed to hold an independence referendum in the years to come.

Schmidt acknowledged that his actions "were inappropriate and capable of causing offence and hurt".

The execution of Nidal Malik Hasan will be the first military execution since 1961 and the first by firing squad since the end of World War Two.

The ads, which tout Trump and his policies, could have violated US laws barring public government funds being spent on political advertising.