CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Two Charlottetown councillors explained Friday why they were unable to attend the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in Quebec City in May.
The issue is that even though Bob Doiron and Julie McCabe pulled out the City of Charlottetown, and taxpayers, were forced to pay a part of the fees associated with accommodations and registrations.
Doiron said a medical procedure kept him from attending.
The Guardian recently ran a story on the list of expenses charged to the City of Charlottetown from council and staff that attended the four-day meetings.
Even though Doiron didn’t go, he still cost the city $253.49 in accommodations.
Doiron contacted The Guardian on Friday to set the record straight.
He said on Jan. 21, councillors were asked if they would be attending the conference because the process of booking rooms had started.
On May 3, Doiron said he informed Peter Kelly, the city’s chief administrative officer, that he had to pull out of the conference because of a newly scheduled medical procedure that he was having on May 22. The conference was scheduled May 30-June 2.
“I was informed that because of my medical certificate that I submitted that all fees would be reimbursed to the city,’’ Doiron said. “Apparently, that was not the case and I was informed of this last week.’’
The city says it was able to get full reimbursement for the conference registration but the deposit for the accommodations was not credited.
“I have always found that many of the (municipal) issues are the same but there are many innovative solutions that we learn from. I compare it to professional development opportunities that many folks have in their own jobs.’’
-Sharon Mousseau, deputy reeve, Beckwith Township in Ontario
McCabe had also planned to go but pulled out, yet the city still has to foot a $499 conference workshop bill for her as well as $253 in accommodations.
McCabe told The Guardian a work commitment came up and she informed the city a month before the conference that she wasn’t going to be able to attend.
The city was able to get part of her registration refunded but not the accommodations.
“It was just a case of unfortunate circumstances and timing,’’ McCabe said.
Sharon Mousseau, the deputy reeve with the Beckwith Township in Ontario, read The Guardian’s story on Charlottetown’s FCM expenses and reached out to say she thinks it’s important for municipal councillors to attend these meetings.
“We are encouraged to attend the FCM conference for its value in learning from the excellent workshops as well as the valuable information learned from colleagues in other parts of Canada,’’ Mousseau said. “I have always found that many of the (municipal) issues are the same but there are many innovative solutions that we learn from. I compare it to professional development opportunities that many folks have in their own jobs.’’
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