A day after learning Susan Fennell is the highest paid mayor in Canada, some Brampton residents are now asking questions about her overseas travel schedule.

Fennell travelled to China in December, then visited India in January. She’s set to leave for the Philippines in a couple of weeks.

“Are the costs of these trips yielding any returns?” asked Brampton resident George Startup.

“Trade missions, in my opinion, fall within the jurisdiction of our federal or provincial governments,” Startup said. “Yes, municipalities could be involved, but not to this extent.”

He echoed the concerns of a local citizens’ group, councillors and other residents questioning the cost to Brampton taxpayers to send the mayor and staff overseas.

A spokesperson for Fennell replied to the Star in a statement.

“Budget for the trade missions is approved by council,” the statement read. “The goal of these trade missions is to create opportunities to build long-term relationships with entrepreneurs and to encourage them to develop their next job-creating ideas here in Brampton.”

Neither Fennell’s office nor city staff provided a breakdown of the costs for any of the trips.

But a report to council last month shows the budgeted amount for the Jan. 2-17 India trip was $53,000, with the actual cost being $72,548. The extra amount was charged to the mayor and councillor expense budget. For international business trips, such as the trip to India, Brampton council has approved a separate annual budget of $123,000.

The report went on to say that the cost of the airfare to send seven Brampton delegates to India was $27,607. That works out to about $4,000 a ticket.

The seven Brampton delegates to India included Fennell, a member of her staff, three councillors and two senior City of Brampton staff.

Councillor Elaine Moore, who did not go on any of the trips, says that while council did approve an international travel budget to foster business, costs need to be kept in check.

She questioned sending seven people to India.

“There is nothing in the (approved) policy to limit participation,” Moore said. Perhaps sending the mayor and one staff member or just two senior staff is more financially responsible.”

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In response to the story about Fennell’s salary, the group Citizens for a Better Brampton, a watchdog organization that focuses on city hall, put out a news release that mentioned the mayor’s travel.

“Her junkets around the world at taxpayers’ expense ... serve only to reinforce in the public’s eye that this Mayor exemplifies and enjoys her feeding frenzy at the public trough,” the release said.

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