The incomparable Bob Mackin has been doing great work over at Business in Vancouver and, this week, he reports on BC’s delegation to the latest climate change gabfest in Morocco.

Bob reports that Environment Minister Mary Polak is skipping the event, sending parliamentary secretary Jordan Sturdy in her place to pick up a UN Momentum for Change Award for the BC carbon tax. (Some momentum – we’re still the only jurisdiction anywhere to have this kind of carbon tax.)

From Bob’s story:

The official UN list of participants, dated November 10, includes Deputy Minister Fazil Mihlar, Assistant Deputy Minister Susanna Laaksonen-Craig and Mark Knudsen, Polak’s ministerial assistant.

BIV asked specifically for the approved budget for the trip, but spokesman David Karn said, “All costs will be released following the trip and once they have been finalized.” 

(clipped)

Last year, the federal government spent almost $974,000 to send politicians, bureaucrats and non-governmental organization representatives to Paris. The bill included $6,600 for a photographer to shadow Minister Catherine McKenna from photo op to photo op. By comparison, B.C. taxpayers paid $5,400 to send Clark’s videographer, Kyle Surovy, to Paris.

The Canadian delegation to Marrakech 2016, led by McKenna, includes more than 225 politicians, bureaucrats, and business, aboriginal, union and youth group representatives.

Last year, BC sent nine people, including Polak and Premier Christy Clark, to Paris to hobnob with Justin Trudeau. That cost BC taxpayers $74,169. This year’s bill should be far less.