No reason to spend our money on swag

Government waste is inevitable, but taxpayers ought to expect their elected officials to do everything they can to curtail it. Instead, some municipal councillors are spending our money on useless swag.

An Ottawa Citizen freedom-ofinformation request shows councillors in that city are buying hockey pucks, blankets, ice scrapers, playing cards, Frisbees, travel mugs, hand sanitizers, mint tins, aprons, balloons, mini hockey sticks, insulated cooler bags, shirts, tote bags, magnets and tents. It’s particularly disappointing to see even those who are usually considered thrifty deciding that they need to spend our money in this manner.

True, the swag spending is miniscule in comparison to most municipal budgets — just a few thousand dollars here and a few thousand there. The problem is this spending is purely self-promotional and benefits only the councillor — unless you consider a mug with your councillor’s name on it a benefit in some other way.

The real message of all these giveaways that prominently display a councillor’s name is clear: “Hey, I’m your councillor. Vote for me.”

It seems an unprofitable sort of spending for all concerned. No reasonable person would vote for a candidate because of the gift of a hockey puck or an ice scraper. Even in the 19th century, the price of a vote was a bottle of whiskey. So why do politicians do it?

Ego comes quickly to mind. Perhaps it’s satisfying to see one’s name on stuff, especially if someone else is paying the bill.

The penchant for personalized products is also tied in with the notion that every politician should have a brand. In this case, the brand is either cheapskate or waster of public funds.

Councillors might want to remember that former prime minister Jean Chrétien made headlines during the sponsorship inquiry for spending $1,200 in public money for golf balls with his name on them. Judge John Gomery called the practice “small town cheap.” Chrétien pointed out that a prominent Montreal law firm also put its name on golf balls. The difference was that the law firm was spending its own money.

If municipal councillors really feel that the public needs ice scrapers with politicians’ names on them, then by all means they should buy them — using their own credit cards, not the municipality’s.

Better still, councillors could actually work hard for their constituents, speak up on key issues at council and treat taxpayers’ money with respect. It seems like a better way to get re-elected. — Postmedia News