Posted by 
Edmonton’s Amarjeet Sohi is flying to Paris for a global mayors’ meeting about homelessness, his fourth overseas trip as mayor since April 2022.
The meeting, run by Ruff Institute of Global Homelessness and UN-Habitat, is meant to be a forum for mayors to discuss challenges cities are facing, best practices and solutions. Sohi is one of two Canadian delegates, representing both Edmonton and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
The travel and hotel budget, for Sohi and one staffer, is $8,454 — they are flying economy and will stay in “budget accommodations,” according to his office.
In a statement, the mayor said the city will explore every avenue to tackle homelessness.
“Access to affordable, accessible and appropriate housing is essential to ending houselessness and building socially and economically thriving cities,” Sohi said.
“We’re working with other levels of government, partnering with the community, and now we are working with experts and jurisdictions around the world who are facing similar issues.”
The mayor plans to share Edmonton’s experience about “how the city is taking bold action” to increase the supply of market and affordable housing.
“Edmonton is being recognized around the world as a leader in reducing barriers to building housing, and other jurisdictions are following our lead,” the mayor’s office notice states.
The CEO of Homeward Trust, Susan McGee, appears to support the mayor’s trip.
“This meeting of experts, service providers and policymakers from around the world is an opportunity for the mayor to share Edmonton’s story and learn from other jurisdictions. I look forward to working with Mayor Sohi on exploring ways to incorporate those learnings into our work,” she said in the release.
Fourth overseas trip since 2022
Sohi’s office budget allows for one international trip per year, according to his staff.
This is his fourth overseas trip in his capacity as mayor since April 2022.
Last June he went to Europe for a 10-day trade mission to advocate for the technology and innovation sectors at London EdTech Week and the AI Summit. He was in Berlin to give a keynote speech about Edmonton’s anti-racism and reconciliation work, then went to Frankfurt for a Cities on the Frontlines Conference by Strong Cities Network.
While Sohi initially estimated the cost at $12,000, he ultimately expensed $8,870, according to the mayor’s online travel budget.
When he attended COP-17 in 2022, his office initially estimated the cost at $22,000, but his online expense report ultimately recorded $7,187.
Sohi went to Amsterdam and Frankfurt in April 2022 for a trade mission. He also expensed trips to Denver in 2023 and to Nashville and Kansas in 2022.
The mayor’s office said Sohi’s travel expenses have stayed within budget every year.
