Regina mayor seeking approval for 2nd international trip in a year
CBC
As Regina city council prepares to consider a $6,000 trip for Mayor Sandra Masters, we now know the cost of a previous international outing.
It cost nearly $30,000 to send a three-person delegation representing the City of Regina to an international climate change conference in Dubai late last year.
Mayor Sandra Masters described Regina's participation in COP28 as an opportunity to advocate for the Queen City, discover new technologies that could be useful for a municipal government, and "show ourselves as a natural and preferred home for climate-friendly production of food and fuel and fertilizer, and for investment."
Economic Development Regina says it paid the entire cost of $29,359.98 for the COP28 trip. The organization had originally budgeted anywhere from $25,000 to $35,000 for the trip to the conference, which ran from Nov. 30, 2023, to Dec. 13, 2023.
Regina city council is now being asked to approve another trip for Masters, this time to France in June to attend the 80th commemoration of D-Day.
The mayors of Thue et Mue and Bretteville l'Orgueilleuse in France have extended an invitation to Masters, asking the mayor to join them in the commemoration of the liberation of those towns in D-Day. At the same time the Royal Regina Rifles, which played a major role in D-Day, will be hosting a a 10-day tour of Europe at the beginning of June.
The cost of Masters's trip to France, including airfare, rail transportation, accommodations and meals, is projected at $6,000. All city related travel outside of North America requires approval by city council.
The documents do not make it clear who will bear the cost for this trip.
The details on the City of Regina's delegation to Dubai are much clearer.
Multiple funding agreements with multiple levels of governments allowed Economic Development Regina to solely bear the cost of the Dubai trip, according to a statement from the organization.
Masters, Economic Development Regina president Chris Lane, and city manager Niki Anderson made up the delegation.
While the attendance of Masters and Lane was public knowledge well ahead of the trip — Masters's international travel had to be approved by city council — Anderson's involvement was not confirmed to the public until the conference was nearly wrapped up.
At the time, the City of Regina told CBC that a public announcement about Anderson's participation was not deemed necessary after it had been "widely reported that the City of Regina had been invited by Economic Development Regina to participate in this mission."
Economic Development Regina told CBC that the participation of a city official was raised in early November "as part of broader discussions around the city's role at the conference."
Saskatoon city hall says police spending is projected to be $2.6 million over budget this year. That pushes the city into a $1.2-million deficit position, according to a report that will be considered by city council next week.
Students at the University of Regina are days away from deciding whether a newly formed student association should become their official representative body.
All public schools on P.E.I. are closed Friday and thousands of Maritime Electric customers are without power as strong winds create hazardous travel conditions across the province.
Prince Rupert, B.C., residents are celebrating the holidays this year with coastal flair.
In the four years Chelsey Simmonds has worked at the Eva Rothwell Centre, she has seen the need increase every year at the centre’s community food pantry.
CBC is once again looking to make the holiday season kind in Windsor-Essex.
Acute Care Alberta has extended its contract for another year with a private surgical facility at the centre of probes into health procurement and contracting.
As food bank use continues to climb across the province, front-line workers in Thunder Bay, Ont., are working to improve both food security and education.
More ads could soon be coming to Toronto’s subway system.
The driver wanted in connection with a fatal hit and run on Highway 401 earlier this week has been identified, police say.
There are mixed feelings about the proposed Grays Bay road and port project, among people who live in nearby communities.
WARNING: This story details allegations of child abuse and includes graphic content.
Provincial police in Lambton County have charged a 23-year-old man with second degree murder following a death investigation that began this past Saturday.