The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has called on politicians in the Lower Mainland to "get back to basics" and stop "wasting money" on expensive retreats — such as the Lower Mainland Local Government Association annual general meeting in Whistler.CTF BC Director Carson Binda patched a pothole himself to show elected officials just how easy it was to provide the services taxpayers need. ."We're here to send a clear message to politicians from across the Lower Mainland and beyond that taxpayers are demanding they get back to the basics," Binda said during a press conference in East Vancouver. "Right now as we're standing here patchin’ potholes and fixin' the roads, politicians from the Lower Mainland are meeting at a spa in Whistler to schmooze and booze, and to discuss taking even more money from taxpayers.".He cited drivable roads and a functioning water system as examples of things politicians could be spending taxpayers' money on instead of a getaway in Whistler.When reminded that politicians will inevitably need to get together every once in a while, Binda pointed out that the Lower Mainland LGA event in one of Canada's most expensive resort towns went far beyond a simple meeting."There's banquets, there's receptions, there's live bands, there's door prizes," he said. "Taxpayers are struggling to make ends meet while our local government politicians are wining and dining, living the high life — off our tax dollars! That's unacceptable."Binda added that there are "literally hundreds" of buildings owned by local governments across the Lower Mainland where the meeting could have been held..Binda said a huge issue was municipal governments "downloading costs" from the provincial and federal governments, noting that the mayor's Budget Task Force cited it as a "massive drain on Vancouver's municipal resources."."What we're calling on is for the premier, David Eby, and the minister of municipal affairs, to reinstate immediately the auditor general for local government," he added. "BC municipalities used to have a watchdog to monitor their spending, provide reports and recommendations when they were wasting money. The NDP defunded and then eliminated that office altogether."Binda urged Eby to "do the right thing, put on his big boy pants, and bring back the auditor general for local governments immediately."He added that the CTF hopes to have a full expense report of the Lower Mainland LGA's event by the end of the week.
