VICTORIA: The BC division of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today released copies of a blatantly partisan mailer sent at taxpayer expense, from Labour Minister Joan Smallwood to BC union leaders this past August.

"Two years ago, the NDP rightly criticized the Liberals for wasting taxpayer money on a household mailer. At the time, present NDP politicians described that mailer as a 'partisan propaganda sheet' and 'hypocritical.' The letter from Ms. Smallwood fits both descriptions," said CTF-BC director Mark Milke. "Politicians should stop using taxpayer money to wage their partisan wars."

Obtained by the CTF, the 10-page unsolicited mailout contains a three-page letter from the Minister, six pages of NDP caucus communications information, and a one-page response form. In the letter, Ms. Smallwood mentions Liberal Gordon Campbell eight times, and the Liberals three times. The letter repeatedly attacks the Liberal leader whom Ms. Smallwood describes as "stretching credibility."

"Under the guise of building a 'contact list' with labour - as if the NDP didn't know where to find their friends - the Minister has used public money for partisan purposes," said Milke. "It is especially hypocritical given that Ms. Smallwood criticized Elections BC this past spring for spending too much money giving voters information on recall legislation."

The CTF has written to Ms. Smallwood, asking for information on cost of the mailout, and demanding that the New Democratic Party refund a similar amount to the public treasury.

Milke noted that in reviewing the 1997 Liberal mailer, the Auditor General said that "communications allowances are public funds provided to facilitate communication between MLAs and their constituents and that they must not be used for partisan purposes. It would seem appropriate, therefore, that similar rules of propriety should apply to expenses charged to these allowances as apply to other communications expenses incurred and recorded elsewhere in government."

"Surely the offices of cabinet ministers, which are supposed to serve all British Columbians, should abide by higher standards than even those recommended to MLAs by the Auditor General," said Milke.