irwinloy

A city councillor hopes Vancouver taxpayers won't mind picking up the tab for a $2,200 trip to this April's Juno awards in Calgary.

NPA Coun. Elizabeth Ball says the four-day trip will be great preparation for when Vancouver hosts the annual Canadian music awards next year.

“I'll be looking at how the Junos are conducted,” Ball said in an interview. “Being able to observe that will give us new ideas of other ways it could be done in Vancouver; ways we can actually heighten how it's done here.”

Opposition Vision Vancouver Coun. Tim Stevenson, however, called the trip a “junket.”

“Why should the taxpayers pay for that?” Stevenson said. “This isn't a necessity that the city sends an official representative to the Junos. If she wants to go on her own dime, then fine. Go and have a nice time.”

Here's the estimated cost breakdown for Ball's trip:

Airfare: $650
Hotel: $820
Ground transportation: $100
Juno tickets: $450
Per Diem allowance ($60 × 4 days): $240
Total: $2,260

Under city bylaws, councillors need a majority council approval to officially attend events and represent the city outside the province.