No News Conference On Mayor's Trip Til Monday

Thursday, February 08, 2007 05:58 AM

Prince George residents will have to wait through the weekend for full details of the Mayor's recent eight-day trip to the Asian Winter Games in China.

Mayor Colin Kinsley and Events Prince George Sport Manager, Virginia Sprangers, travelled to ChangChun in hopes of promoting Prince George as a venue for sports training. Kinsley also planned to pursue trade and commerce opportunities.

Upon his return at Monday night's city council meeting, the Mayor had promised to offer up results of the trip on either Tuesday or Wednesday of this week. But Kinsley says, "Staff is putting together all of the contact names and we've actually had some e-mailing back and forth - a couple of interests the Chinese want referred right away - so, we're going to do it on Monday."

Asked if there is something positive to come out of the trip, Kinsley says, "I think so, yes. Yeah, I think, well, I more than think. But, you know, it's difficult. There's a difference in the culture, there's a difference in the business culture, there's some things that have to be identified and it just takes a while. But, yeah, it's very positive and it's more than just the sports training."

The Mayor says, "The more immediate requests that we're getting are actually on business and transportation, so it's going to be exciting." Kinsley says he asked the Mayor of ChangChun to lead a delegation to speak to the international commercial department, the foreign affairs department and the transportation department. And he says, "That's where we're waiting for some feedback on, stuff for the media conference, but they had a real interest, a real interest in what we're doing."

As for the costs associated with the trip, Kinsley says he's not sure if it's coming out of the Mayor's budget or Initiative Prince George's, but says either way, it was taxpayer funded. "I was told it was anywhere from 25-hundred (dollars) to four-thousand, but I have no idea. I guess it depends on when all the costs are in."

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Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2007 05:58 AM in News by Michelle Cyr-Whiting

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Comments

Posted by: bohemian on February 8 2007 7:54 AM

Mayor says: "I was told it was anywhere from 25-hundred (dollars) to four-thousand, but I have no idea. I guess it depends on when all the costs are in."

What?

Didn't he know the cost of the trip and his promotional budget before he left?

He was "told" what he spent? Doesn't he KNOW what he spends?

Posted by: Palopu on February 8 2007 9:05 AM

Seems thats the way he regards taxpayers dollars for any project. It hardly seems to be a concern. $500,000.00 here, a Million there, $195,000.00 here $5 Million there. It just money what the *H*.

Posted by: diplomat on February 8 2007 10:03 AM

That *25-hundred to 40-hundred* of course has to be multiplied by two, since two people took the trip.

If anyone knows of a way to take an eight day trip to China - return flight ticket (I assume business class), 4 star hotels, meals/drinks, transportation, trip cancellation insurance, out-of-country medical coverage insurance...-for 25 hundred, I would like to find out how one can do it.

Posted by: trusted on February 8 2007 10:22 AM

He didn't do it diplomat!
Four thousand definitely did not cover the cost of that trip for himself and Sprangers.
That was the petty cash portion.
Wouldn't we all like to make travel plans like our stellar mayor, Colin Kinsley and associate, Sprangers,-or whatever?
Just book the flight and off for the good times-to be enjoyed by two.
Of course he cannot deliver any news release to the media.
It is more than "difficult" to come up with something-other than it was a real blast of a holiday , enjoyed by both!
What's to release?
What the heck-we can wait for that "stuff" for the media conference.
After all, don't we have a marvellous perception of the obvious?

Posted by: diplomat on February 8 2007 11:35 AM

A previous opinion250 story stated: "Kinsley and Events Prince George Sports Manager, Virginia Sprangers, were invited to attend the Asian Winter Games - the city was the only North American community to receive an invitation."

I find that very hard to believe since a little research on the city of Changchun discloses the fact that Quebec City, Quebec, Canada is a sister city of Changchun.

If Quebec City did not receive an invitation to attend the 2007 Winter Games I would consider that to represent a serious faux pas, if not outright lack of courtesy and good manners on the part of the Chinese.

Posted by: Palopu on February 8 2007 3:16 PM

Why would any Canadian City be invited to the Asian Winter Games? Do we send out invitations around the world for the BC Winter Games?? Mayor Kinsely got an invitation (Probably verbally) when he was in Changchun for the World Winter Cities Mayors meeting in January 2006.

He asked the Mayor of Changchun to lead a delegation to meet with the International commercial department, the Foreign affairs department, and the Transportation department. What are these departments?? Foreign Affairs would be Federal and come under Peter Mckay, however I have never heard of an International commercial department, or a Transportaton department. Perhaps more will be revealed on Monday.

In any event those are areas of concern that are looked after by the Federal and Provincial Government and have nothing at all to do with a Mayor from the middle of BC. What would happen if every Mayor in Canada started to travel around meddling in other Governments areas? We would have absolute bedlam and confusion. These statements are nothing more that a smoke screen to cover the fact that this was nothing more than a thinly disquised holiday.

Posted by: Gofaster on February 8 2007 6:51 PM

I have my doubts that he can even remember what he did....
or why...
or with whom...
a looser in my opinion....pity that China didn't keep him....

Posted by: diplomat on February 8 2007 7:07 PM

The first time P.G. attended the World Winter Cities Mayors meeting was in 1996, together with 13 other Canadian cities.

Since then, P.G. has attended every meeting, with P.G. being the only Canadian city in 2000. In 2002 only P.G. and Sault Ste. Marie attended. In 2006 only Leduc and P.G. bothered to show up.

Our city officials are the most eager to participate, but I don't recall ever having heard about any tangible benefits for P.G. as having resulted from those contacts.

I tend to agree with your assessment of these trips as just being thinly disguised holidays.

Posted by: charles on February 8 2007 7:35 PM

This is a prime example as to why I would like to see government as small as possible in this country. People never spend someone else's money as careful as they spend their own money.

Posted by: owl on February 8 2007 7:44 PM

In that case, perhaps we should say: "here is $40,000 to spend on travel for the next year. Whatever is left at the end of the year, 50% goes back to the Kitty, and 50% belongs to you."

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on February 8 2007 10:04 PM

The mayor still has my vote. I don't see anyone else that would work as hard. Lot's of buffoons out there who don't know what work is, it ain't that easy to stay positive and go looking for any place that might keep PG on the map. The complainers and whiners will still be around, bitchin about the same old things, long after Colin is gone.

Like Chief Louie says, If your life sucks, you suck, get counseling.

Posted by: acrider54 on February 9 2007 6:26 AM

Have to give him time to remember and make up some stories how these trips will benefit the taxpayer of PG

Posted by: Palopu on February 9 2007 9:29 AM

Theres a big difference between looking for a place to keep BC on the Map and an Easter egg hunt.

While our Mayor was in China one of the biggest mining conventions in North America was taking place in Vancouver BC, something like 3000 delegates from around the world. Mining is one business that we are trying to promote in this area.

Did Prince George have any representatives at this convention, and if not why not.

Posted by: Marty on February 9 2007 9:43 AM

The $2,500 was just his bar tab.....the trip was on top of that.........

Posted by: trusted on February 9 2007 10:13 AM

Oh come on Marty-you do not know him very well!
The bar tab is the $4,000.00 figure! For one.
And yes, Pal, the Vancouver convention was far more important than China.
Maybe would not have been quite as entertaining, and not really a justified holiday.
Guess we will hear about all the "stuff" on Monday.
I can hardly wait!
I lied!