Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley was in the awkward position of discussing an international trip for government officials just days before putting those trips on hold at his new job as chair of Metro Vancouver.
City council is considering an overseas “friendship” trip to Asia next year that could cost more than $100,000.
During a meeting of the international relations and friendship cities committee July 23, Hurley noted international trips have come under scrutiny at Metro Vancouver.
“There is a big lens on travel for politicians at the present time, so something to keep in mind,” he said. “It’s not something that I personally would like to take on.”
Some Metro board members, including Hurley, caught flak for taking a trip to a conference in the Netherlands in April amid local concerns over the skyrocketing costs of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant.
But Coun. Pietro Calendino, chair of the friendship cities committee, pushed back.
“They’re not just excursions; they’re economic and educational exchanges,” Calendino said.
“Yup, understood,” the mayor replied, “but the public doesn’t give a damn.”
Hurley also told the committee it will be difficult for him to find the time to travel due to his new role as Metro Vancouver chair and he may not be able to attend the visit to Asia.
On July 26, as chair at Metro Vancouver, Hurley put a hold on international travel for board members at the regional government.
Burnaby’s sister and friendship cities
The potential trip to Asia in 2025 would include visits to Kushiro, Japan; Hwaseong, South Korea; and Taichung, Taiwan.
Kushiro and Hwaseong are Burnaby’s sister cities while Taichung is a “friendship city.”
The relationships have “intrinsic long-term benefits for the community, like spreading economic and cultural awareness,” according to a committee report.
For a 15-day trip to Asia, the estimated cost per delegate would be between $15,000 and $17,500, made up of:
- Airfare (premium economy class air or business class): $8,500 to $11,000
- Accommodations: $4,500
- Meals: $2,000
Other costs, according to the report, would include ground transportation ($15,000), hosting dinner ($25,000), and tokens of appreciation ($6,000) for a total of $46,000.
Burnaby’s most recent sister-city trip to Mesa, Ariz. this past April cost a total of $26,890 over five days for eight delegates, including council members and city staff.
City spokesperson Chris Bryan told the Burnaby NOW the friendship visit to Asia has not yet been approved by council and a delegate list would not be determined until it is approved.
The year 2025 will mark the 60th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Burnaby and Kushiro; the 15th anniversary of Burnaby and Hwaseong; and the 16th anniversary of the friendship-city declaration between Burnaby and Taichung.
Staff will report back to council with more details, including options for dates to travel.
If approved, the trip will go through an early budgeting process to allow staff the time to make travel arrangements.
The city would also plan to invite members of the local business community, Tourism Burnaby, the Burnaby Board of Trade, Burnaby Board of Education, SFU and BCIT to participate in the visits.
