Given the scrutiny government spending gets these days, not only in Canada but elsewhere, with politicians’ diverging sense of entitlement, it is not surprising that this question had also been raised in B.C., and closer to home in the Shuswap riding as the headline in the Salmon Arm Observer April 2, shows.
In it we have our MLA Greg Kyllo defending his travel expenses, which I think are totally justifiable under the circumstances.
My wife and I have been involved in B.C. politics for 40 years, have met and dealt with many politicians over that time. Some which were seeking public office for personal gain, because a position like that would offer them much more than they could ever have achieved in private life, holding a job.
The reasons for running for public office are various, but the right and only reason should be to help move the country forward for the good of all its citizens.
While there are many in our midst who would embrace that noble goal and have proven their abilities, only very few of them would be willing to expose themselves to the scrutiny and vagaries of political life.
So if one of them can summon the courage to make those sacrifices, it is a small price for us to pay to make sure that their personal comfort is assured.
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Sig Koeck
