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All for what is described by council as a part-time job.

So why do these council members need a third of their salary to be tax free? You can ask Mayor Don Atchison and councillors Troy Davies, Ann Iwanchuk and Pat Lorje, who all voted to protect their wallets rather than the public purse on this issue.

The mayor said it’s easier to maintain the status quo. Of course, it’s always easier to maintain the status quo and protect one’s interests. But that’s not why we elect politicians; we elect them to do the difficult things. If that means lobbying the provincial government to do something in the best interest of taxpayers over their own bank accounts, then to do it.

Instead what we got was something that Brian Mulroney said in describing the elder Trudeau Liberals: “Like pigs in a trough.” Perhaps former Liberal politico and Royal Canadian Mint head David Dingwell said it better when he claimed: “I am entitled to my entitlements.”

There is the ongoing issue of communications funds. Council set it up in a manner that would make the Devine caucus scandal participants blush, with almost no accountability.

Coun. Charlie Clark lead the charge to stop the use of the communications fund starting July 1. That makes sense. The election has already started. Clark has already started his campaign to become mayor, and the rest of council other than Coun. Tiffany Paulsen have said that they are seeking re-election.

Mayor Atchison said that he wouldn’t worry about the civic election campaign until fall, but then immediately held a fundraiser. His website lists a campaign office phone number to Earnscliffe Strategy Group in Saskatoon. The consultants are ready to go; the fundraisers have begun. It only makes sense to turn off the public money when the campaigns have started.