Mayors take World Cup time out
Niagara politicians pay for tickets out of their own pockets
Don’t fret taxpayer watchdogs. Niagara politicians who attended Saturday’s Canadian women’s World Cup soccer game in Edmonton did not do it on the public’s dime.
“We all paid for our own tickets,” said Niagara Region Chair Alan Caslin.
Caslin took to social media to post photos of himself attending Canada’s 1-0 opening game victory against China, as did Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati and Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn.
The three were part of a contingent of Niagara politicians who were out west attending the Federation of Canadian Municipalities convention, which took place in Edmonton from Friday to Monday.
The annual conference allows municipal leaders from across Canada to meet with influential federal politicians, such as Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, New Democrat Leader Thomas Mulcair and Conservative finance minister Joe Oliver.
“I did pay for my tickets separately,” said Augustyn, who attended both the Canada-China and New Zealand-Netherlands games Saturday. He said the tickets were $74. Augustyn said special transit was provided to and from the conference and that he took the bus to the first game, but stayed for the second match and walked back.
“There was so many members that were there from FCM,” he said, adding several Niagara politicians went. “They had a huge block, hundreds of people … from FCM that attended the game.”
Augustyn said attending the game was an option made available to all conference participants.
“I’m very pleased to have taken the option.”
Diodati said he, too, paid for his own ticket, as well as for his daughter, Olivia, who also attended the game.
“Any personal stuff, for me or my daughter, I paid for,” he said.
Diodati said the transportation to and from the game was arranged through FCM.
“But we had to pay for our own tickets. It was a wonderful Canadian event. It was an amazing game and a unique opportunity to see Canada play against the world in Canada.”
Municipalities from across the country pay to send delegates to the annual conference, which has moved across Canada. The FCM conference was held in Niagara Falls last year.
The provincial counterpart, the Association of Municipalities Ontario, is scheduled to take place in Niagara Falls this August. That annual conference allows municipal delegates to meet with prominent provincial leaders and ministers.
“It’s quite a big deal that Niagara Falls landed both FCM/AMO back to back (years),” said Diodati.
“First time ever for either conference to be in Niagara and we nail both because we have the Scotiabank Convention Centre and the infrastructure to handle such big conferences.”
But we had to pay for our own tickets. It was a wonderful Canadian event. It was an amazing game and a unique opportunity to see Canada play against the world in Canada.” Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati