A lawn-sign initiative celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday is proving to be a hit with Londoners, but one MP calls it “self-serving.”

Two London Liberal MPs say they’re struggling to keep up with the surging demand for the red and white lawn signs celebrating Canada’s sesquicentennial.

The maple leaf-depicting signs have become such a must-have ornament that the offices of both the New Democrat and Conservative MPs in the London region are fielding calls from constituents asking for the freebies.

But here’s the catch. Only Liberal MPs are distributing the signs that also carry their names.

“I find it a little self-serving. This is supposed to be about the country and the people of the country,” London-Fanshawe NDP MP Irene Mathyssen said. “It looks like an election sign to me.”

Liberal MPs across the country, including Peter Fragiskatos (London North Centre) and Kate Young (London West), have been giving out signs to constituents in the runup to Canada Day.

The signs must include the MPs’ names and contact information because they’re paid for from the politicians’ member’s budget, money used to run their offices, pay staff, buy advertising and cover other job-related expenses.

“This is a non-partisan effort,” said Fragiskatos, noting the Liberal Party’s name and logo don’t appear on the signs.

Fragiskatos is encouraging Londoners to keep the signs up past July 1.

“Canada 150 is unique because we can celebrate it throughout the year, so why not offer the opportunity for Londoners to come in and grab a sign, put it on their lawn and celebrate their country?” he said.

“The signs are going out like crazy. I’m not sure how many we’ll have left after Canada Day.”

Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto, said he doesn’t see an issue with the sign giveaway.

“Sure it’s political, but everything a politician does is political by definition,” said Wiseman, director of the university’s Canadian studies program.

“There’s nothing to keep (other MPs) from doing the same thing,” Wiseman added.

MP Kate Young estimates her office gives out around 100 signs a day, with 3,000 already distributed.

Her staff has reordered more signs — costing less than $3 each — twice since the June 3 rollout at the Gathering on the Green in Wortley Village.

“It gives you a good feeling when you drive down a street and you see all these signs,” said Young, who dismissed any criticism of the initiative.

“We’re not stopping any member of Parliament from doing anything,” she said. “They could do it, too.”

The signs are available for pickup at Fragiskatos’s office at 885 Adelaide St. N. and Young’s office at 390 Commissioners Rd. W., unit 200.

dcarruthers@postmedia.com

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