$55 lunches - which you the taxpayer will be paying for - no receipts required either

By Pepper Parr

April 16^th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

Regional Council is meeting this morning to adopt  a Council Expense Policy.  They will be amending an existing policy to replace the

words “are not” with “may be” so it reads as follows:

Council Members may be reimbursed for costs incurred when travelling to and from Halton Regional Centre for Regional business (e.g., Council or committee meetings, orientation, meetings with staff, etc.).

THAT the following clause be added to the Council Expense Policy as new subsection:

4.4.1 Meal Allowance (Per Diem)

When attending events outside Halton Region for Regional business that include an overnight stay (e.g. conferences), Council members are entitled to a meal allowance of $55/day for each day of the conference, plus one additional day for

travel. This allowance is to be paid to the Council members prior to attending the event. Where a meal allowance has been paid, no additional meal receipts from the event will be reimbursed. None of the meal allowance may be spent on alcoholic beverages or any other items noted in Section 4.7, Ineligible Expenses.

THAT Corporate Counsel be authorized to prepare any necessary by-law adopt ;

AND WHEREAS Council wishes to amend this Policy;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

THAT subsection 4.5.1 of the Council Expense Policy be amended by replacing the words “are not” with “may be” so it reads as follows:

Council Members may be reimbursed for costs incurred when travelling to and from Halton Regional Centre for Regional business (e.g., Council or committee meetings, orientation, meetings with staff, etc.).

THAT the following clause be added to the Council Expense Policy as new subsection

4.4.1 Meal Allowance (Per Diem)

When attending events outside Halton Region for Regional business that include an overnight stay (e.g. conferences), Council members are entitled to a meal allowance of $55/day for each day of the conference, plus one additional day for

travel. This allowance is to be paid to the Council members prior to attending the event. Where a meal allowance has been paid, no additional meal receipts from the event will be reimbursed. None of the meal allowance may be spent on

alcoholic beverages or any other items noted in Section 4.7, Ineligible Expenses.

THAT Corporate Counsel be authorized to prepare any necessary by-law.

The change in the policy, that has yet to be passed, was put forward by Burlington Councillor Paul Sharman and Halton Hills Councillor Clark Somerville.

They will be entitled to ask for $55 to pay for their lunch when they have to travel.