A freedom of knowledge request has revealed new particulars about how 1000’s of Metro Vancouver taxpayer {dollars} had been spent on catering and alcohol on the PNE.
The data obtained by World Information present that in 2022, the Metro Vancouver Regional District spent $17,604.76 on catering on the annual summer season honest, together with $4,844.95 on alcohol.
In 2023, $16,440.52 went to catering, whereas the price of alcohol was unclear: the regional district mentioned there have been “no responsive data” for that request.
The data adopted an earlier FOI request for cash Metro Vancouver spent on the PNE in 2024.
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Metro Vancouver Chief Administrative Officer Jerry Dobrovolny mentioned “the price of the PNE is within the order of $580,000.”
In response to questions on spending in 2022 and 2023, Metro Vancouver responded that for 2 years it “had the chance to take part within the PNE Live performance Sequence as a part of its PNE sponsorship.”
“The live shows had been a casual method for elected officers to attach in particular person following COVID-19 and construct the relationships essential for making the vital selections that form our area,” it mentioned.
It didn’t take part within the live performance sequence in 2024 and mentioned it’s reviewing insurance policies associated to internet hosting occasions.
“When regular taxpayers are lining up at meals banks worrying about how they’re going to feed their children on the finish of the night, it’s unacceptable for Metro Vancouver politicians and bigwigs to be blowing tens of 1000’s of {dollars} on booze and catering on the PNE,” Canadian Taxpayers Federation B.C. director Carson Binda advised World Information.
New Westminster Metropolis Councilor Daniel Fontaine mentioned the brand new data was troubling.
“This FOI triggers for me much more questions than it offers solutions for,” he mentioned.
“It actually begs the query as as to whether a utility like Metro Vancouver needs to be spending these sorts of {dollars}, not solely on the PNE however extra broadly.”
World Information has beforehand reported how Metro Vancouver spent $64,000 on meals and alcohol on the 2023 Federation of Canadian Municipalities convention.
Metro Vancouver workers additionally participated in journeys to Amsterdam, New Orleans, Lisbon.
This, as taxpayers face enormous payments as a result of North Shore Wastewater Remedy Plan being an estimated $3 billion over finances.
Our FOI request additionally requested for a listing of live performance attendees, to which Metro Vancouver mentioned there have been “no responsive data.”
World Information have contacted BC’s Data and Privateness Commissioner requesting a overview.
© 2024 World Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
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