The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released their annual list of "Teddy Award" winners, which focus on government waste.

Tucked down at the bottom of the release is the Town of Vulcan.

Their offence?

Spending $4,000 on new "Star Trek" uniforms for Town Councillors.

Mayor Tom Grant says the CTF is out to lunch as they get nothing but value and great PR for the Town out of wearing them to public events.

"As a matter of fact on the weekend, we're up at the Home and Garden show in Calgary and you'd be surprised at how many people were impressed with the way we looked. As a matter of fact I was there on Thursday night and many people thought we should have been nominated the best looking booth in the show, because we dressed the part of it."

Grant says the CTF missed the boat on this one.

"It's probably our cheapest and best means of advertising that we have, is these uniforms. It puts us on the map and there are more Star Trek fans in the world than any other genre or group."

Grant strongly disagrees with the Federation's assessment.

"I think it's disappointing that groups don't look at the total picture, but just take a snapshot of just a minor issue."

Grant says the same night they voted to spend the money on the uniforms, they also voted for a way to save over $150,000 in taxpayer money on a tendering process.

He says, "Where was our notice for that?"

Grant says the uniforms get the Town noticed and talked about at government conventions and the cost is minimal, with a 20 year life expectancy, the final cost is $28.57 a year for all seven uniforms, not per uniform, but all seven combined.

The Town's CAO Kim Fath says whenever the Mayor and Council go to the AUMA Convention or other government meetings they wear their uniforms and usually draw a crowd.

He says Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson have both approached them looking to have their photos taken with them.

Fath says, "You don't see Nenshi looking to get photos with Devon Town Council."

Grant says the money stays in Vulcan as the work and all the materials were locally sourced.

 

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