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Katelyn McDougall, who participated in a Vision Vancouver town hall with Coun. Raymond Louie on federal investments in cities, was paid nearly $6,000 for four research reports on Concord Pacific, a living wage proposal, regulating foreign investment and a provincial funding review.

The mayor also spent nearly $70,000 on travel and training last year. That’s up nearly 430 per cent from 2014, when he spent just over $13,000. In 2013 and 2012 he spent $23,811 and $33,601 respectively on travel. But 2015 was also a busy year for Robertson, who met Pope Francis at the Vatican, attended the United Nations in New York, met with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and conducted a business tour in Asia.

His office said the mayor’s role as head of the Big City Mayor’s Caucus during the federal election meant travel demands were high. He also heads the TransLink Mayors’ Council. The city says the budget increase also relates to his roles as chair of the Vancouver Police Board and the Vancouver Economic Commission.

Magee said he approved the expenditures in the mayor’s fund and they all meet auditing scrutiny. He said 2015 was a major year for the mayor, not only because of the additional international duties and travel, but also because there were significant staffing changes requiring transition funding.

But George Affleck, a Non-Partisan Association councillor who voted against the 2015 budget increases, questions the expenditures.

“No, it is not appropriate at all. The duty of the mayor is to represent the city as the whole,” he said. “I find the mayor’s office has become highly politicized and now we’re seeing that money is being spent on friends of Vision Vancouver.”

The Vancouver Sun asked for, but was not provided with, an opportunity to interview city finance officials about the operation of the mayor’s office budget.

jefflee@vancouversun.com

Twitter.com/sunciviclee