Membership has its rewards

It’s an unusual approach for a Canadian politician, auctioning off friends and acquaintances to raise money for a political campaign, setting up some for potential embarrassment should they not be in high demand. A situation that could possibly not only strain a political campaign but a friendship as well.

However, Liberal leadership hopeful Michael Ignatieff has thrown caution to the wind and created his own personal eBay (iBay anyone?) on his website where political junkies can bid for such enchanting things as hockey coins, a Kitchen party and hot date with a sexy Liberal MP, (no it’s not Belinda).

Ignatieff’s campaign has opened up bids for a number of items and so far the response has been uh, well, one suspects that the daily Podunkian here gets more action in a day (not that that says much).

By far the most intriguing of the items has been the lunch date with Ruby Dhalla; the MP for Brampton-Springdale, according to the Iggy site, the lucky bidder will be able to talk anything from politics to parliamentary procedure. In keeping with everything P we assume the menu will cover everything from pizza to proscuitto. So far Ruby is the leader of the pack, with the top bid of 2,501 dollars and counting

A tip of the hat to the Borque site for the deliciously titled slug line, Rubeeeee don’t take your love to town! Perhaps the restaurant will pipe in some Kenny Rogers for the luncheon date.

Other items up for bid include a round of golf with John McCallum for 301 dollars which makes him a better golf date than John McKay who only commands 102 dollars, you can buy a Nike putter left handed you know, as well for sixty bucks for the big match.

John Turner earrings go for 29 bucks, who knew that Turner wore ear rings! Well to be fair they’re the novelty kind so it’s doubtful that Chick ever wore em, but hey a guy nicknamed Chick, you just never know.

Commemorative 50-cent silver coins honouring Canada's hockey legends have so far fetched a bid of $165. But don’t go looking for a certain famous Montreal Canadien goaltender! The coin set does not include famous Habs goalie Ken Dryden, he just happens to be a rival candidate for the leadership and somehow didn’t make it to the auction block.

Speaking of famous Quebecois, a St. Pierre of Trudeau pin goes for 61 dollars while a Trudeau cover from the 1984 convention comes in at 116.

Paul Zed will help you host a Maritime kitchen party complete with Moosehead beer all yours for 261 (beer and GST included we assume)

And for 620 dollars it will be Everyone loves Marineland as Nigara Falls, Ontario will be your destination with MP’s Albina Guarnieri, the MP for Mississauga East-Cooksville, and John Maloney, the MP for Welland.

One hopes that this doesn’t mean that Mr. Ignatieff’s leadership chances will soon sleep with the fishies!