Hmmmm . . . Good question. But don't bother asking Brian Clavier, whose campaign for Ward 2 councillor is being run on a shoestring so taut his cat's illness could easily snap it. In fact, he told Carment Court residents last week that he couldn't afford to buy them peaches - and even if he could, he had more respect for them (and the political process) than to try and "buy their votes." Besides, he has this quaint idea that buying gifts for electors is simply wrong (even if it stays on the sunny side of the law). Maybe this query should be directed to his opponent.
Greg Dionne shelled out for extra boxes of peaches for Carment Court residents this year. The rationale: everybody eats, so why not give them free food. Similar reasoning must apply to the polystyrene cups he provides to organizations in the downtown (see photos below):
everybody drinks some type of beverage, so why not give them a disposable container for that purpose.He forgot that these cups aren't recyclable in Prince Albert [or weren't, until Crown Shred started a trial recycling service for plastics numbered 1 to 7 on October 1, 2009. This service costs $9.58 per month, per household. . . .]
The flip side of the cup reminds Prince Albertans how important it is to profess their love for the city. 
This type of expenditure doesn't win local elections, of course. That requires 4-foot-square plywood signs, a vehicle plastered with your name and photograph [even if it's parked in Crescent Acres most of the time, where Ward 2 residents can't appreciate its artwork], and donations to various community events.
One such event is the annual Metis Fall Festival. The current Ward 2 councillor is a long-time supporter, as is the mall he manages. The Festival's 2009 program gives him credit for sponsoring the prize money for the amateur talent show (on the fourth page after the centrefold - click to enlarge the reproduction).
This is not unusual, except that the only other elected official recognized in the program for his financial support of this excellent event [I missed the talent show, but attended the square dance and jigging finals on Sunday] is the former Conservative MP for Prince Albert [he was replaced by another Conservative in the November 2007 election]. His recognition appears two pages after the city councillor's.
The current Ward 2 councillor is indeed generous to a fault.
In the run-up to the 2003 and 2006 municipal elections, his largesse provided residents of the three housing authority high rises in the ward with various items - toasters, microwaves, fruit, and, of course, lunch.
Brian Clavier accidentally encountered the free lunch the councillor sponsored at the Union Centre on September 18, 2006. As part of Brian's mayoral campaign, a meeting with Sherman Towers residents was set for 11 AM that day. The poster advertising the meeting appears below (click to enlarge). Arriving early to the scheduled event, Brian got no response after repeatedly buzzing his contact in the building. 
After a few minutes, one of the residents appeared, explaining that no one was going to be in the Common Room at 11 AM: everyone was at the Union Centre for a free lunch - put on by the Ward 2 councillor. Brian went to the hall, and passed out his card to many of the seniors eating there. Two of the other three mayoral candidates showed up later. At least two hundred people were fed at this event, which went on until 1 PM.
After a few minutes, one of the residents appeared, explaining that no one was going to be in the Common Room at 11 AM: everyone was at the Union Centre for a free lunch - put on by the Ward 2 councillor. Brian went to the hall, and passed out his card to many of the seniors eating there. Two of the other three mayoral candidates showed up later. At least two hundred people were fed at this event, which went on until 1 PM.Ultimately, Brian's 2006 mayoral campaign cost $3,875.58. The ward 2 campaign he's running has a budget of less than $800.
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