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“It’s one of the places that we’re able to draw funds from to allow us to do some things that are a bit outside the normal taxation,” Corrigan said.

Photo by Arlen Redekop / PNG

In terms of timing, Corrigan said he’s not worried that the Winter Olympics will drive up the cost of the trip, mostly because they won’t be staying in Pyeongchang.

“It’s expensive any time you go to Asian cities, there’s no doubt about that,” Corrigan said. “We’re not seeing any difference as a result of that.”

External delegation members will pay their own expenses.

McGowan said the process for approving such trips is not transparent. The South Korea junket was approved at a December meeting of the International Relations and Friendship Cities Committee.

“If you’re going to go on a trip of this nature you should be proud of it — it should be reported so people know where their money is going,” he said.

McGowan also wants to know how Burnaby will benefit from such a trip.

“There could be some value … the benefit is not really costed out,” he said.

Corrigan said that relationship building is one thing that takes place on overseas trips, but he said there have been tangible benefits from past trips, such as Burnaby hosting the World Taekwondo Championships in 2016 and a major contract for a Burnaby company in China.

“It can work into tangible things, as a result of these kind of relationships but it often takes time,” Corrigan said.

“It’s always hit and miss, but the benefit that often isn’t considered is that for our … many multicultural communities the fact that we are making contact and that we are experiencing the countries they come from makes a real difference here.”

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