EDITORIAL – Mayor’s motion on meal expenses promises to stir the pot

An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.

THE MAYOR OF KAMLOOPS jumps from the frying pan into the fire tomorrow as he tries another motion. This one has even less chance than his previous ones.

Reid Hamer-Jackson will try to persuade councillors to give up their paid meals for council and committee meeting days. Specifically, his motion asks that the City “put an end to paid meals for Council engagements effective immediately. This would include the mayor, council, directors and senior staff in attendance to all council and committee meetings.”

The mayor believes the savings could be put towards other things that are needed. The motion is quite clever in that it puts councillors in a corner. It’s sure to make them squirm as they try to defend the status quo; that is, if it even gets a seconder.

I’ve sat in meetings shaking my head as some civic politicians complained about meal allowances they thought were too low, or about the quality of the food. That’s called a sense of entitlement.

There’s nothing particularly wrong with providing working meals for elected representatives within strict guidelines. Lavish dinners and drinks are definitely out of favour, and even going out to restaurants between in-town meetings should be a no-no nowadays.

Bringing in some sandwiches or wraps is a much better option. The meal issue, though, bothers a lot of taxpayers, and the level of spending has drawn much concern in the past.

Taxpayers want to feel reassured that politicians aren’t living high on the hog at the public’s expense. That said, whether or not they’re fed, or should brown bag it instead, comes down to leadership.

What a fine message it would send to those they serve if the City council was to say, “You know what, we’ve got a lot of important priorities right now and we’re going to do our personal part to hold the line on our own perks.”

Will that happen? Don’t bet on it.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.