Redford Releases her Travel Expenses

[OffsideSpecialist]

Alberta is also the most controversial province with the oil sands and everything. Could be that she was trying to mend relationships with foreign leaders, particularly those in Europe, with their concerns about oil from Alberta.

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by trumpethead

I'm not sure how 16 artists and a chef qualify as "needs" for our politicians. I dont think the Premeir should apologize for flying business class and staying in a decent hotel - but $518k for a trip to the London Olympics - thats an insult to our athletes.

Well in fairness the province did chip $70M to help pay for a world class Athletic and Ice complex for athletes to train in.

[darklord700]

At least Redford is a woman so we don't have to worry about her expensing night club outing.

[c.t.ner]

Originally Posted by Leapfrog

From what I understand (from sources within the government).... Redford was the only premier in the country that went to London.

Not sure why, but that fact creates an "it figures" response.

I don't know about you but it'd be pretty odd and counter productive to have Jean Charet or Brad Wall attending a promotional event to showcase Alberta Culture and Tourism to the British or German Tour Guide Industry. I'm also pretty sure having Christy Clark at an event to showcase Alberta's Oil and Gas Industry would have been pretty awkward.

The events organized and planned were all Alberta centric, if other provinces decide to hold similar events in London during that time frame and their Premiers didn't go then I think you would have a point to compare.

[Leapfrog]

Originally Posted by c.t.ner

I don't know about you but it'd be pretty odd and counter productive to have Jean Charet or Brad Wall attending a promotional event to showcase Alberta Culture and Tourism to the British or German Tour Guide Industry. I'm also pretty sure having Christy Clark at an event to showcase Alberta's Oil and Gas Industry would have been pretty awkward.

The events organized and planned were all Alberta centric, if other provinces decide to hold similar events in London during that time frame and their Premiers didn't go then I think you would have a point to compare.

But... DID other provinces have a presence there at all? (Premier attended or not)

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Leapfrog

But... DID other provinces have a presence there at all? (Premier attended or not)

Why would it matter?

[Leapfrog]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

Why would it matter?

Why would Alberta's premier feel the need to go to London when the rest of the provinces didn't feel it necessary to go? As it was mentioned here by someone, only one event was officially Olympics focused... so why go to London during the most expensive time to go?

Maybe I'm just sour that governments in general seem to expense "stuff" to the taxpayers without much thought about who actually PAYS those expenses. (That's a general statement, not really pointing fingers at anything specific - this current government or another)

[Senator Clay Davis]

They went to the Olympics, a massive gathering of international dignitaries, as a way to sell Alberta, noted for its perceived "Evil Oil Sands", as more than just the "Evil Oil Sands", to dispel some of the notions about them and to in general promote Alberta for investment and tourism. Pretty sure Mayor Robinson from Vancouver also undertook a trip to London for the Olympics to promote the city (bizarely odd considering they hosted an Olympics not too long ago)

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Leapfrog

Why would Alberta's premier feel the need to go to London when the rest of the provinces didn't feel it necessary to go? As it was mentioned here by someone, only one event was officially Olympics focused... so why go to London during the most expensive time to go?

Maybe I'm just sour that governments in general seem to expense "stuff" to the taxpayers without much thought about who actually PAYS those expenses. (That's a general statement, not really pointing fingers at anything specific - this current government or another)

Umm, because that's where the politicians and industry heads who were being targeted by the presentations were? I suppose they could have done the same presentation in London on a random October weekend and just hoped that people would fly in for it, because that seems probable.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

They went to the Olympics, a massive gathering of international dignitaries, as a way to sell Alberta, noted for its perceived "Evil Oil Sands", as more than just the "Evil Oil Sands", to dispel some of the notions about them and to in general promote Alberta for investment and tourism. Pretty sure Mayor Robinson from Vancouver also undertook a trip to London for the Olympics to promote the city (bizarely odd considering they hosted an Olympics not too long ago)

How is this odd? You just said there were international dignitaries at these events. I bet Mayor Robinson wanted to meet with those types as well.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

How is this odd? You just said there were international dignitaries at these events. I bet Mayor Robinson wanted to meet with those types as well.

Because they just had the Olympics....apparently they didn't do a very good job (or any job for that matter) of selling Vancouver. Or maybe they took the dignataries to the DTES and that was that and now they're trying to rubuild the image.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by fotze

I saw him driving that same car. Then the next day he was on my flight to Newark on Westjet. He took the meal voucher we got when re-directed to Toronto due to bad weather. He didn't get on the flight when it re-boarded. Terrorist! Shane Doan was also on the same flight.

Pretty interesting stuff I know.

Travelling the last two weeks I've seen Theo Fleury, Kerry Fraser, Brian Mulroney and Lou Ferrigno. The Hulk is still in amazing shape.