T
here’s been a lot of media coverage regarding City Council and our budgets and policies surrounding travel.
I don’t want to use this space to rehash any of it, but I would like to answer a question that was raised recently.
There was a letter in the Observer asking a specific question of Council, which I’m happy to answer.
The question was why another municipality receives $68 as a “per diem” when we receive $90 in Quesnel.
Elected officials from other local governments in our region who travel out of town receive as much as an additional $120 per day during their time away.
So while they receive between $150 and $200 to cover per diem, food, and incidental costs, we in Quesnel are capped at $90.
Often we don’t claim the entire $90.
For example, if I’m at a conference, and lunch is part of the conference registration, the amount allowed for lunch is not claimed.
Councillors attend two conferences per year on average, and maybe one or two day trips in our region.
As Mayor, I travel more often, but I can often do City business at no cost to the taxpayer (except my time), as I serve on several provincial boards that cover my travel costs.
This topic is an example of why the City delivers its message to the media every week.
I want to answer your questions, address your concerns and provide factual information.
Multi-Centre
It was another busy week full of lobbying representatives from senior levels of government, looking for funding support for the North Cariboo Multi-Centre.
I was joined by Cariboo Regional District Board Chair Al Richmond and Area C Director John Massier as we met with the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, the Hon. Stephanie Cadieux, last week.
We’re asking the provincial government to provide $10 million towards this $30 million project, while asking the federal government to provide another $10 million.
The Minister indicated she is impressed by the project.
I also met personally with George Abbott and Christy Clark, while they hosted meetings in Quesnel this week.
Do you have a question for Mayor Mary Sjostrom? E-mail it to us at newsroom@quesnelobserver.com and we’ll forward it to the Mayor so she can answer it in an upcoming column.
