More on the wacky world of politics in New Westminster. In partnership with the Tenth to the Fraser blog (http://www.tenthtothefraser.ca), this civic election New West Environmental Partners has  sent out a list of questions for mayor and council candidates on issues of sustainability.

Candidates were given two weeks and asked to answer each question within 350 words with any answer longer being truncated at the 350th word. Answers are being published in the exact condition received, spelling, grammar errors and all, with all formatting removed so they are in the same font (no highlighting, colour, underlines, etc).

One thing that was not explained was whether the candidates should actually answer the questions themselves or whether they could just cut and paste their answers from Wikipedia.

As an example, have a look at James Crosty’s opening statement on sustainability:

Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of stewardship, the responsible management of resource use.

And then look at the Wikipedia entry on sustainability:

Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of stewardship, the responsible management of resource use.

Strikingly similar? Yes, in fact word for word the same. One can only hope that Crosty is able to find a good explanation for fiscal prudence and how to balance a budget.