Metro Vancouver taxpayers forked over $17,336 to fly George Harvie, the regional government’s board chair, to Brisbane, Australia last October, according to 2023 board expenses published online.
The costs, according to Metro Vancouver director of communications Amanda McCuaig, were on account of a policy to fly staff in business class for international flights. The expense report shows hotel costs generally in the $500-$600 range. For example, four nights in Ottawa for Harvie last September cost $1,000 for the flight but $2,899 for four nights of accommodation.
“I found overall it was interesting, I did bring back a lot of good ideas, especially on the port police and other subjects. So yes it was worthwhile. Should we be going all the time, every year? No, but that’s my opinion,” said Harvie, adding that all the travel in and of itself is “not enjoyable.” North Shore households are currently poised to pay, on average, $725 per year for the next 30 years, with more modest contributions from their neighbours over the next 15 years — $140 from Vancouver, $70 from Richmond and $80 from the “Fraser” area, such as Burnaby, New Westminster, the Tri-Cities and Surrey.Harvie said one thing he learned in Brisbane is how infrastructure projects are becoming more expensive all around the world.