The Union of BC Municipalities is an annual buntoss attended by hundreds of mayors and councillors from across B.C. , it’s essentially a whine and cheese event – fancy food, special receptions by big corporate sponsors and unions, and some whining for more money from provincial taxpayers.

You’ll be hard pressed to find a single elected politician there who isn’t spending tax dollars to eat, sleep and attend the conference. (In fact, if you find a politician paying their own way, let me know: I’d like to tweet them a congratulatory message.)

If you’re wasting, er, spending all that tax money, the least these politicians could do is PRETEND to be doing the public’s business. Instead, this afternoon’s “policy session” is called: What Candidates Need to Know for the 2014 General Local Elections. Excuse me? Naked campaign prep on the taxpayer dime? From the session description:

The Local Elections Campaign Financing Act (LECFA) and the Local Government Statutes Amendment Act (LESAA) enacted in 2014 were created to enhance campaign financing rules and to ensure greater accountability and transparency in local elections. Representatives from the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and Local Government Management Association will present general local election administration information such as elections roles and responsibilities and the nomination process.

Elections BC will present an overview of campaign financing, election advertising and disclosure requirements. This is an opportunity for you to get first-hand information about local elections rules and regulations and for election participants to ask questions.

So basically taxpayers are paying for mayors and councillors (who already reap the benefits of incumbency and name recognition at the polls) to prepare their election campaigns and stay ahead of other candidates. This is embarrassing, sickening and just plain wrong. Shame on the UBCM and provincial government for putting this session on the docket.