Re: "Local delegation planning Asia trip," Sept 15.
Victoria's mayor and city manager are planning a trip to China in October to "strengthen economic and educational ties." They've applied to the province to fund travel costs.
In 2010, the province paid for the cost of flights. Who paid for the rest in 2010? Was it Victoria taxpayers?
If anyone goes to China, it should be the Greater Victoria Development Agency - that's its job. In the meantime, the City of Victoria and its politicians and officials should be focused on building the local economy.
I had an email from a landlord on upper Fort Street wondering what the city could do to create a better business climate for her tenants. If we want to attract investment from China or elsewhere, let's put the City of Victoria's energy - and taxpayers dollars - into making Victoria a business destination, not a city of increasingly vacant storefronts.
So, how about a trade delegation to upper Fort?
Lisa Helps
Victoria city councillor
