Ah, election years. Local politicians scrambling for as many happy photos and stories in the paper as possible. And, all too often, that campaigning is done with your tax dollars.

Take Mayor Derek Corrigan in the City of Burnaby, for example. Mayor Corrigan’s picture and name (and autograph) is splashed all over a two-page spread, paid for by the property taxpayers of Burnaby, in the local rag opposing the Kinder Morgan pipeline proposal. There’s even a bold headline: “Please join Mayor Derek Corrigan, Councillors and Staff”. Oh brother.

Look, local governments, under provincial law, have to buy ads for statutory reasons to advertise public hearings, rezonings, etc. But this Corrigan ad is just pure politics on the tax dollar. If the mayor wants this in the paper, he should shell out the money from his own campaign. Otherwise, let Burnaby taxpayers stick to only buying the ads they have to.

Keep an eye on your local papers, and if you see another politician blatantly pop up in taxpayer-paid ads, be sure to let us know.