Big Spenders must accept strings attached to taxpayer funded expense accounts

The blog I wrote on November 4th, 2012 identified two groups of council members.  In the first group, who I will call the "Big Spenders", we have Tony Van Bynen, John Taylor, Tom Vegh, Jane Twinney, and Chris Emanuel.  Each member of the Big Spenders have used his/her taxpayer funded expense account to "donate" $1,000 or more to attend fancy dress galas and events.  In the second group, we have three councillors who, when we combine similar expenses, total only a few hundred dollars. The same three councillors were identified during last night's meeting as being willing to volunteer their time to a local community event.  The three in question - Councillors Hempen, Di Muccio, and Kerwin. 

Speaking during last night's televised Council meeting on behalf of the non-committal/ un-responsive Big Spenders, Regional Councillor John Taylor said that he would not feel any shame about not participating in the community event.  He argued that he and his colleagues have the benefit to choose with whom and when they will do community work. 

He's wrong of course -

When a councillor "donates" taxpayer provided funds directly from his/her expense account, then the councillor must accept there are strings attached.  Regional Councillor Taylor and the others must recognize that using taxpayer money means there are obligations of them to represent the residents of Newmarket. 

Therefore, because they are using taxpayer funds for charity donations, Regional Councillor Taylor and the others don't get to "pick and choose" who they can work with.  Voters have already decided through the last election who the Big Spenders will work with.  If the Big Spenders wanted the luxury of "picking and choosing" then Regional Councillor Taylor and the others shouldn't have dipped into the taxpayer funds from the outset.

I don't believe for a second that Hempen, Kerwin or Di Muccio are less charitable than the others based on their expense account totals.  In fact, I believe there is more than ample evidence to prove otherwise, not the least of which being their willingness to be generous with their free time at this upcoming community event.  I think they approach charitable giving very differently from the first group of Council members. 

In fact, I think there is clearly reason for raised eyebrows concerning the Big Spenders.  I have to wonder, if there wasn't a fancy dress party or a photo opportunity on hand, would any of them show up at a community event?  If you don't believe me, open up any edition of Newmarket SNAP and count the number of appearances by Taylor. Van Bynen and the other "Big Spenders".  They seem to be where SNAP shows up.  Imagine that. 

I've always believed that charitable giving, (whether it involves money or time), should always be made with humility.  The humble giver shows great strength of character.  Too bad that too many Newmarket Council members missed that lesson in Sunday school.  Perhaps they were too busy trying to be noticed instead.  Some may be too cheap to give with their money (it's better to donate taxpayer money instead), or perhaps too lazy to show up (when no photo opportunity exists).
        
Of course, Mr. Taylor and his Big Spenders gang would not be shamed.  They've given up the capacity to feel ashamed a long time ago.  Somewhere along the way, they have come to believe that they are entitled to the money in their expense account -- to buy gala tickets for themselves (and perhaps their spouses as seems to be the case with Councillor Vegh), to purchase photo ops, etc -- because they've lost sight of whose money they are spending.  It isn't theirs.  It belongs to the residents of Newmarket.