Local officials should repay tax dollars given to Liberal MP

Feb 20, 2008

There is news this week of ratepayers’ cash making its way into the Liberal Party of Canada’s trough.

At least two townships used municipal monies to make what are essentially donations to grand ole party.

Both Chisholm and East Ferris councils thought it prudent to throw some dough Anthony Rota’s way for the privilege of rubbing elbows with NHL Hall-of-Famer-turned-politico Ken Dryden.

This is a dubious investment.

Just how do these councils think they are going to see a return on their investment? How do they justify giving a donation to a man whose base salary is in the $150,000 range when there are so many local needs going unanswered? Is this a policy for all political parties or just the ones they like?

By cutting a cheque to the Liberal party, both councils opened themselves up to these questions and more of their ilk.

This is not to say that to say that holders of public office should not take part in the public opinion process. If they have convictions toward one party or another, belonging to municipal office does not preclude them from acting upon them. However, they should use their own bank account and not the corporation of the township’s to show their support.

The politicians, Mayor Barb Groves in Chisholm and a yet unknown person from East Ferris, should repay the money to their citizens’ treasury pronto.

By doing so they will put the questions to rest. Not doing so is simply partisan politicking on the public dime.