By Pepper Parr
October 23rd, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
This story has been revised. A reader pointed out to us that the Mayor did provide a very detailed report on her trip to France for the D Day remembrance. A link to that report is now included.
Our Mayor is in Japan.
The mayor has gone rogue – taken to Japanese fashion.
She has been there since October 15th and will return on Friday.
She is part of a delegation that is celebrating our 30th anniversary of the Twinning of Burlington with Itabashi, Japan.
Attending with the Mayor and one of her daughters. The Mayor is picking up the cost of her daughter’s travel expenses.
The city manager and at least one staff member and Ward 6 Councillor Rory Nisan is part of the delegation. Members of the Mundialization committee are also part of the delegation.
Mayor Meed Ward marching through the streets of Itabashi, Japan with city manager Tim Commisso doing his best to keep up.
Other than the recognition and the celebration of the twinning relationship there is no clearly stated reason for the trip.
There has been some discussion about possible business opportunities with different Japanese cities.
When the Mayor returns she has said she will tell us all about the trip.
When Mayor Meed Ward took part in the 75th Anniversary of the D Day landings in France the public was given a very detailed report that included how much was spent. That report can be found HERE
The Mayor did report on what she spent – the sums were reasonable and acceptable. She took one of her staff members with her and they shared a room.
There is very little in the way of news from the Mayor directly – there are a number of pictures posted on one of her social media pages.
We share those with you and wish the Mayor safe travel as she prepares to return to Burlington, ranked as Canada’s best community and best place to raise a family. It is a city where people, nature and businesses thrive.
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward enjoying a Japanese delicacy with Councillor Nisan in the background wondering perhaps if he too will be fed.
Councillor Rory Nisan taking part in what may be a cooking class.
The Mayor is on the right. There was no detail provided on the pictures.
I was wondering where my tax money was going, keep it in Burlington. Japan is just another country which Burlington should stay out of. Why not take more trip on people of Burlington’s money..
I personally have no issue with Counsel members going on a trip. I just don’t understand how this fits into the climate emergency situation. How can we say we are in a climate emergency and fly 6 people to Japan for no apparent reason?
I am quite sure that the mayor will provide a wide-ranging report on her return from Japan. It takes time to assemble the pertinent details succinctly, with photos to match, to create an appealing document.
That shot of Rory with his hand in the cookie jar is priceless. 12000mile round trip to Japan producing 2000lbs of CO2….Don’t worry Rory just drop $40.00 in the Native American carbon offset fund.
Note: the Mayor’s Juno Beach trip report was posted on her website in June. It’s a very good article outlining Burlington’s lesser-known connections to Juno Beach, including the creation of a museum remembering the sacrifices Canadian soldiers made there — a museum made possible by the persistent efforts of a Burlington resident.
“Many people don’t realize the strong connection Burlington has to the events of that day and the battles that followed…” Also, sheds more light on the recent proposal of Burlington twinning with Courseulles-Sur-Mer, France.
Worth a read as Remembrance Day approaches:
https://mariannemeedward.ca/juno75-burlington-remembers/burlington-mayor-visits-juno-beach-for-75th-anniversary-of-d-day/
(Links to formal trip reports are included at bottom of article.)
Editor’s Note: We corrected the article – the Mayor did indeed produce a fine report. We look forward for the report on the trip to Japan which is going to come in at $3150.00 each for six people,