It will cost $20,000 to send Burlington mayor and delegation to Japan

A visit by a Burlington delegation to Japan later this year will cost taxpayers $20,000.

The visit, part of the 35th-anniversary celebration with twin city Itabashi, takes place Oct. 17-20 and includes Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nissan and four others who will form the delegation.

A report presented to a Burlington city committee this week shows that $3,000 has been set aside for each member of the delegation to cover the cost of airfare, accommodation and eating expenses.

Up to $1,500 will also be spent on an official gift to Itabashi which will be presented on behalf of Burlington residents.

The trip is part of a reciprocal arrangement with Itabashi officials who visited Burlington during the recent Canada Day celebrations.

Burlington is also twinned with the town of Apeldoorn in The Netherlands and next year the 20th anniversary of that relationship will be honoured with visits by officials in both locations.

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Cities and towns often twin to promote commercial and cultural ties.