Maybe read this first
http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2012/10/11/Chairman-Harper/

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

I get it now. Any savings at the city are to be spent on the mayor.

How many trips have previous council’s had in the past to try and establish this twin city relationship. Are they flogging a dead horse?

Just because they found a pot of money does not mean they have to spend it and the optics of going on a trip to China right now while the core review is in progress is so wrong.

I really hope the other councillors use a bit of common sense here and vote this down.

Saying that, maybe she will like China so much she will not come back!

This ‘twinning cities’ is pure bs. Spend the money to solicit businesses from Surrey or Richmond to move up here. Much better return I’m sure.
Trips like this..ie. ‘Norhtern Cities Conferences, twinning cities etc. is a preplanned method of legal graft: massive Air Miles for the atendees…

I hear that this is a setup.

Councillors Wilbur and Hall, as well as Councillor Koehler will speak against it and show us all that they are cut from a different cloth than the Mayor.

Okay, so we all have our fantasies. ;-)

30-35 grand on a single trip? What is she flying over in…a private jet? Staying in a luxury hotel with servants?
Get a grip!!!

You would think that Jiangmen would welcome her stay no charge. After all, it is our sister city.

Quesnel twinned with a City in Japan some 20 years ago. Maybe they should ask Quesnel how this worked for them?? Fact of the matter is it didnt work at all.

Seems to me that there are already a few Cities in the US who have twinned with Jiangmen China maybe they should contact them.

There is no benefit to these types of trips other than spending money. I suspect that most Cities in Canada never go to China as much as us, nor do they BS their citizen as much as our Council does.

I must say I expected much better from this Mayor and Council, and so far I have been disapointed.

Trade, import and export are the responsibilities of the Federal Government, and Provincial Government. Municipalities do not belong in this game, and further more they have absolutely no authority in the trade area. Private enterprise can look after itself along with these areas of Government.

Time for the Mayor and Council to smarten up.

http://www.hotelscombined.com/SearchResults.aspx?destination=city%3aJiangmen&checkin=2012-11-12&checkout=2012-11-19&Rooms=1&adults_1=2&languageCode=EN&currencyCode=USD&HotelID=1627157

I do not know if the link will work, but a 7 night stay is available for US$ 307 total… not per day, but total…..

Maybe food is expensive ….. maybe gifts?

Flghts to Beijing from PG are in the order of $1,500 return ….. of course that is not first class.

Why would you go again? And if there is really a need to go, why wouldn’t you wait until you have the permanent city manager ? Taking a temp manager is out right stupid. Green…step down and stop ruining our city. How many times can you prove yourself incompetent before you realize your are NOT mayor material

At this time with the core review hunting for savings not good idea.can meet the new underground miners when they get here save your money PG.

These connections used to be for cultural exchanges … to promote peace, and understanding.

If that is what it should be, then the development money should not be used for this. It is to seek economic benefits to both cities.

So where is the plan on how this will be done? We need objectives, and processes of how to get there and realistic, not spin, reports back of what was accomplished, what are next steps, and how much was spent and the expected return on investment.

What, no IPG people going? What a disaster. This council has the same attitude of past council’s, spend, spend, spend.
Remember all the coin spent in going to Turin Italy to solicit athletes to train in PG. How did that work out?

Further indication that Green is arrogant and out of touch with the sensibilities of the citizens. City workers get laid off while a core review looks at cutting services in order to save money and she wants to go to China on our dime?
She’s not terribly bright, is she?

Posted this on a story about IPG recruiting in Ireland…..guess she found another pocket in the public purse to dip into:(

“I suppose that once Shari is appointed to the board we will have a smelly candle summit with our sister city in China:)”

From a October 2010 City news release.

“The City of Jiangmen, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China, and the City of Prince George intend to establish a twinning relationship in the next year, to support cooperation in the following areas of common interest:
• Tourism
• Cultural exchange
• Health care
• Transportation and logistics
• Pulp and paper
• Post secondary education
• Any other areas of mutual interest
Last month, the City of Prince George, University of Northern British Columbia, and Lheidli T’enneh visited China and collaborated to pursue a twinning relationship with the City of Jiangmen, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China. This initiative was funded through a grant from the Province of British Columbia, provided to Prince George as part of a Memorandum of Agreement on Local Government Twinning, signed in 2008.”

Has anything been done since the earlier trip that now requires followup? Chinese tourists clogging local airport? Mandarin now official second language at UNBC and CNC? City running low on acupuncture needles?

I would love just one example of where the groundwork was laid on earlier visits that can now be expanded with this junket.

The saddest part is that this little paid holiday will actually fulfill one of the council priorities set out in MyPG. Road rehabilitation plan in place? Nope. New revenue streams identified? Nope.Establish budget guidelines? Nope.

Core review says…..Maybe council should go down to the US and go to The Price Is Right or another game show and try your luck at winning a rfefrigerator or car, but please do it on your own nickle… who knows you might get lucky!!

Comeon Sherry how about saving some of that money and take it easy on the tax payers.

Just wondering if she’s really a blond?

How can I be overdrawn, I still have six cheques left???

If that money is still sitting there, why not send it back and tell the Province, Thanks but we didn’t need all of it.

The economic development fund could probably use their money for something much more useful.

Shari, you don’t have to try to break the city in your one term as mayor!

The hypocrisy is dumbfounding. They say we are in a financial crisis and need to return to our core responsibilities. Huh? International relations is a core municipal responsibility?

So they had no money to help out the PGX, they needed to make a bunch of cuts during the budget, and they needed to layoff the environmental staff BUT there is money for a hike in their own pay and NOW money for a trip to China?

Even when Kingsley made so many trips to China at least he wasn’t crying poverty out of the other side of his mouth. IMO the arrogance and lack of respect for taxpayers dollars is unbelievable.

Unbelievable, what an arrogant bunch. They are looking at cutting services but can still party on our dime. This arrogant bunch tout themselves as private business people therefore with a more fiscall sense. Just shows what a load of bs that is. Grab that taxpayer boob and start sucking.

Just fix the dam potholes lady. This bit of rain is already destroying patches

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little

Only if it’s a one-way ticket.

1) Who in Prince George needs a sister in China.
2) What is the benefit of this trip? I get a chance every 3 months or so to go on an all expense paid trip to review new products that we purchase and use. Even with no cost to me or the company, I don’t bother based on the facts. I have more important things to do and I won’t get enough out of it to justify the time.
3) Why no business people going? If this is an economic trip, take some business people with you. I’m thinking there is a crappy gift buyers show somewhere in that area and she needs to buy more over-priced chinese crap to fill her shelves.
Shame on these council members who are clearly out of touch with the realities of running a city. Make it good here for all citizens and then you can go on your little trip. Until then, focus on the issues here that you promised to fix.

Maybe we can name potholes after Chinese rock stars!

Comeon Sherry how about saving some of that money and take it easy on the tax payers.

Now I understand that photo op in the Citizen on Friday October 12th.

Hey Christy!! Seeing how we both will be out of a job soon, were in China did you buy that necklace. I will be heading there soon and would love one just like it. If I play the cards right, the tax payer can flip the bill.

Please Madam Mayor go to China with a large bag. Rent an apartment at your own expense and enjoy the rest of your life. Please do Prince George a favor.
My suggestion is sincere and is not to be a form of bullying in any manner.

“The hypocrisy is dumbfounding. They say we are in a financial crisis and need to return to our core responsibilities. Huh? International relations is a core municipal responsibility?…” everything Mitch2 said.

Either we are broke or we aren’t…depends on Council’s whim at what is in front of them at the time. As has been posted time and again with this council, especially, but not limited….it is all a matter of priority and managing our money effectively to take care of core functions, keep our city safe, pretty as possible and promote a healthy community at large – bit o’ fluff to keep everyone happy and productive.

Bunch of yahoo jerks, I am spitting nails.

To the rest of council, I BEG YOU, please restore some of my faith in the integrity of our elected officials and TELL SHARI TO TAKE A HIKE!

Gee sure hopes Lyn Hall goes to China.. he didn’t get that opportunity when he was a school board trustee.. I bet he is happy he switched. What a waste of money !! Is the average taxpayer of the PG able to join on the free trip? Shame on the Mayor and city councilors for even thinking of such a thing.

To be forewarned is to be forearmed as the saying goes….to those on council with aspirations of continuing a political career on any level attached to this community, and from the employees that have lost their jobs, for the posts left vacant which is akin to a loss of jobs, those employees that are scared silly for their livelihoods in the near future, those community groups for whom there was not one nickel for, to support their great works and balls to the wall commitment to continuing despite the lack of support and respect from this council….on an on, your vote on Monday night will be a deal breaker. Hopefully our F&A guru will also vote this nonsensical waste of money down. The people that have voted you all in to represent our better interests, to the very best of your collective and individual abilities, please consider doing the right thing.

Seriously? Where does a “twinning project” resolve our communities current issues? We are talking about a communist country with a track record of changing there minds when ever it suits them. Look at Australia and what wonders China has provided for them boom and bust, agreement?, what agreement?

Premier Green needs to come back to earth and do her “mayor job” for a while and deal with what’s important here, right here, not over there. Sending a herd of people from Prince George to China will not do anything for us right now other than blow cash that we can’t really afford right now. Can you say “Core Review” (that in of it’s self was a KPMG joke). Let’s out source everything to outside vendors and then get gouged to death when we need something fixed or done.

Seriously we need you to stay here and do some of that “mayor stuff” that we voted you into office to do, not screw around on a vacation with some of your counsel buddies in China with provincial and municipal funds.

“We are talking about a communist country with a track record of changing there minds when ever it suits them”

Remind you of PG City Council???? ;-)

How about Harper and his position on selling bitumen to China?

As they say, nothing is written in stone ….

“Just fix the dam potholes lady. This bit of rain is already destroying patches”

This was taken in Seattle, a rainy city …. how many of these could we buy to compact asphalt patches properly? That would be economic development.

http://tinypic.com/r/k0ov2h/6

Maybe they could also use it as an opportunity to scout for cheap and low quality trinkets that are sold at highly inflated prices in shops in downtown PG, like some of those on George Street or “Speciality Avenue”.

Thirty seven thousands dollars just burning a hole in the city’s coffers and Miss Green can’t wait to have it spent.

You’ve only just proven to the citizen’s and tax payers of Prince George that even you Miss Mayor are a contributing factor to our debt. Maybe your just going to KPMG that.

Where the heck are our Mayor and councilors heads at???!!!
What is the big fascination with China and all these Mayors? What is really going on over there?

We don’t elect city council. We vote them out say goodbye Green

This is beyond ridiculous. More wrong-headed types of thinking from an ineffectual council.

You know; if you develop smart policy that enables business to leverage the assets of an area to enable real growth; if you encourage innovation and creativity; if you manage municipal resources efficiently and smartly to keep operating and living costs down; people will just come here. You won’t have to traipse 10,000 km as the crow flies to beg for business and investment.

This isn’t really about business and investment though is it. It’s about traveling to exotic locals on someone elses dime. Flagrant disregard for fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers of this City. I’m not impressed.

Posted by: Olddog on October 12 2012 4:56 Maybe read this first
http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2012/10/11/Chairman-Harper/

I read that. That’s a really twisted untold story there. Thanks for sharing the link olddog. Absolutely unbelievable.

woodwoman – I am ashamed with Lynn Hall falling for this sham….Hall has been the one lately in council meetings insisting they (the city) keep on track with their scheduled meetings as the “budget” is coming due and sounded like it is his main priority….I speak with forked tonque ;P

That money could be spent better, I am so disapointed, at what they are doing to this city we need another turn over of council. We need more interest in P.G. not China.
Take care of our City first.

While Dave Wilbur is there in China where a small town is two million people, maybe he can check out the taxes paid in that “small town”. While running for re-election and was at the Ramada one night he stated, “We must bring more people to Prince George in order to lower taxes”. That is what he said. Maybe he can arrange to bring many boatloads of Chinese people to PG to live and work because I sure would like my taxes to go down.

Kaiping City comes under the jurisdiction of Jiangmen China. Kaiping twinned with Mesa Arizona in 1993.

So are we a day late and a dollar short???

http://www.smh.com.au/business/chinas-resource-imperialism-a-risk-for-australia-us-analyst-20110929-1kysg.html

I had posted that link a few days ago. The concept of resource imperialism was bought up in that article. The Tyee simply follows up on that notion a year later.

It often takes a while for news to reach the interior of BC, especially international news and issues dealing with foreign policy.

Just think, if the Mayor was not going on a trip to China, this would never have been on the local radar screen.

backgrounder from Council Agenda packagehttp://www.princegeorge.ca/cityhall/mayorcouncil/councilagendasminutes/agendas/2012/2012_10_15/documents/Mayor_Jiangmen_MERGED.pdf

These ‘twinning ‘ cities thing opens the door for more espionage. We keep forgetting that China is a communist country and wants all the information it can gather regarding Canadian resources. This, along with selling any businesses to China will be a regrettable move in the future.