Wasting public money on so-called polls

It’s amazing how many good ideas can come forward when a dozen intelligent, informed people sit down in a room. MP Cathy McLeod invited the chamber of commerce board to meet with her for an hour this morning as part of the pre-budget consultation process and there was no shortage of ideas on where the feds should put their priorities over the next while.

I’m sorry to harp on this, but the change in manner from our last MP is so refreshingly pleasant I can’t help it. Instead of lecturing us on how things are done and should be done, McLeod listened carefully, took her own notes, asked relevant questions and made us feel sure she’ll take it all forward to the prime minister.

And provided coffee and muffins to boot. After the meeting, she and I had a chance to talk about railway ties for a few minutes. She has her views, I have mine, but she’s capable of a reasonable discussion.

I wish I’d remembered to ask her about those constituency mailers that bug me so much. The latest one includes what has become the norm for those things — a pseudo survey on what constituents think.

“Do you think the prime minister is on the right track?” was one question. “Do you support the federal government’s action for Canadian families?” was another.

Really, to what possible use can the answers to such vague, self-serving questions be put? They are, to put it bluntly, a waste of paper.