City councillors report $77K+ in 2025 travel expenses

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — City councillors have reported more than $77,100 in expenses after a year of travel representing residents. 

During the January 26th regular meeting, the City of Fort St. John council approved its fourth-quarter conference, events and travel expenses, which bring the municipality’s total for 2025 to more than $77,130.80. 

According to staff, the council used 93.5 per cent of its 2025 travel budget, with $5,369.20 remaining unspent. The finances are allocated to the ‘council memberships and professional development’ account, and are used to cover the expenses of individual councillors traveling to represent the City of Fort St. John and its residents’ interests. 

Mayor Lilia Hansen reported $17,558.92 in expenses related to attending 13 events from the Be an Angel Gala in Fort St. John to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) 2025 convention in Victoria. 

Councillor Gord Klassen reported the most expenses at $19,385.14 in airfare, accommodations, general expenses and ‘other’ expenses traveling to and from 11 events including the 2025 B.C. Natural Resources Forum in Prince George, the UBCM 2025 convention in Victoria and the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) 2025 Annual Summit in Bellevue, Washington. 

Tony Zabinsky was the councillor with the second highest travel expenses at $17,994.01. This was accrued across 11 events across B.C., including the North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA) annual general meeting and conference in Prince Rupert, the B.C. Natural Resources Forum and the Mental Health and Addictions Symposium in Prince George. 

Councillor Sarah MacDougall’s travel expense report noted $17,952.18, which covered 11 events from the Fort St. John Firefighters Charity Ball to the PNWER summit. Councillor Byron Stewart reported $3,965.64 in expenses from attending the Northern Cyber Defence Conference and the UBCM convention. 

Councillor Trevor Bolin was the only councillor to not attend any events outside Fort St. John, only reporting $155.71 in 2025 in registration expenses to attend the Northern Cyber Defence Conference and North Peace Pregnancy Care Gala in Fort St. John. 

Councillor Jim Lequiere reported the least expenses at $118.20, which was accrued from attending the North Peace Historical Society’s 2025 annual general meeting, the Northern Cyber Defence Conference and a luncheon with Peace River North MLA Jordan Kealy. 

The report was ‘received for information,’ meaning no votes or actions were taken by the council.

To read the complete expense report for 2025, see below.