Toronto Silly Hall

Council's peak spending event Mayor and 11 councillors off to Whistler for Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference By SUE-ANN LEVY, TORONTO SUN

The tourism spiel for Whistler describes it as not just a world-renowned ski resort, but also a "vibrant summer destination."

Less than a year away from playing host to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Whistler is a village that never sleeps with scenery to die for, designer golf courses, top-notch dining, eclectic boutiques and plenty of spas -- along with prices to match.

The shmoozing and celebrity-watching opportunities there are second to none. I know. I've been to Whistler both in summer and winter.

So why am I not the least bit surprised that Mayor David Miller (a celebrity in his own mind) is leading a contingent of at least 12 mostly like-minded socialists to the world-renowned resort three weekends from today.

It's that time again -- time for the annual municipal yakfest, a.k.a. the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) conference.

The conference -- with the socialist-friendly theme of "Partnering for Success" -- takes place from June 5 to 8. According to the FCM program, there's far more for Toronto councillors to do aside from the usual forums on municipal finance, environmental issues, community safety, etc. and all the requisite "partnering."

They can tour the Olympic sport venues and the athletes' village. They can also take a hike atop Whistler Mountain, canoe on the Lillooet River or ride a zipline 200 feet above the forest floor.

It certainly seems neither recessionary times, public perception, the costs to visit Whistler nor the city's fragile fiscal state can keep these porkers from their appointed travels on the taxpayer teat.

As of late last week these councillors were accompanying Miller to the FCM yakfest: Suzan Hall, Gloria Lindsay Luby, Giorgio Mammoliti, Howard Moscoe, Adam Giambrone, deputy mayor Joe Pantalone, Adam Vaughan, Pam McConnell, Paula Fletcher, budget chief Shelley Carroll and Michael Thompson.

The mayor's director of communications, Don Wanagas, has confirmed he'll go to oversee the considerable amount of media that happens there. Two staffers -- Kathleen Bartha and Barbara Sullivan -- from the city's Protocol office are also slated to attend.

Other than Lindsay Luby, this is pretty much the same cast of characters that managed to rack up $41,854 attending the FCM conference in Quebec City last June.

But I'm told there's still time for other councillors to sign up. Winnie Li, director of Council and Support Services, says they only need to submit their notification forms 10 days prior to travelling.

Truly why should councillors care how many jump on the bandwagon when there's a special corporate travel budget of $50,000 to fund such conferences. Councillors don't have to use their $53,100 office budgets, meaning they won't have their FCM expenditures prominently displayed on-line at year's end.

Vaughan, Lindsay Luby, Pantalone, Moscoe, Fletcher and McConnell did not return Sun phone calls.

But Mammoliti told me he's on the FCM Housing Committee and intends to peddle his just-released $50,000 10-year affordable housing report there.

"This councillor has work to do," he said.

TTC chairman Giambrone said he'll also be staying for the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) conference, which is just after FCM.

'NEW IDEAS'

He said he'll spend a whole day talking with other municipal councillors about their programs to "bring back new ideas" and insists while he's never been to Whistler, he's not interested in touring the Olympic sites.

Thompson said he too will be focussed on his community safety agenda and really hates going because it means having to make family adjustments that weekend.

Carroll, who has signed up to take her husband and daughter on her own dime, said this year is particularly special because councillors will also need to man the city's trade show booth, seeing as Toronto is hosting the FCM conference in 2010.

As to the optics of so many people going, she said she tells people in her ward that one-third of councillors from Toronto is "healthy and important for intergovernmental relations."

But Coun. Doug Holyday says this is just an excuse to have a paid vacation.

"These people have no conscience and don't care about anybody but themselves," he said. "Damn the public opinion, they're going."

Kevin Gaudet, head of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, says he can't imagine the trip to Whistler will be cheap.

"There's probably never a good time to go but now is worse than ever," he said. "The average bear in Toronto can't afford a trip at all let alone a swanky, expensive trip to Whistler."

SUE-ANN.LEVY@SUNMEDIA.CA