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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Mayor's office turns in its season tickets
City taxpayers are off the hook for Winnipeg hockey, football and baseball games after the mayor's office followed through on a pledge to return six pairs of season tickets purchased on the public dime.
Mayor Sam Katz's office previously purchased six pairs of season tickets to the Winnipeg Jets, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Winnipeg Goldeyes with its taxpayer-supported budget -- something Katz said has been done by his mayoral office and previous mayors for years. The tickets were distributed to organizations and some elected officials.
Katz initially defended the practice as a way to support local teams and charities. He later promised to end the practice in the wake of the provincial government's crackdown on accepting free tickets to events.
Newly released online expense reports show the mayor's office received a $4,528.96 refund in June for returning 2012 Bombers and Goldeyes season tickets.
On Tuesday, Katz confirmed the Jets season tickets have been transferred to another owner, though he refused to disclose who took ownership of the seats. Last year, Katz's office spent $24,704 of its budget on two pairs of Jets season tickets.
"We no longer have any season tickets, that's it, that's all," Katz said, following a news conference on Tuesday. "The City of Winnipeg no longer has any and No. 2, I already have my own personal tickets. That's my answer to your question."
Earlier this year, Katz asked the city clerk's office to draft a policy on accepting free tickets to events after the provincial government announced it would stop cabinet ministers and senior bureaucrats from accepting complimentary tickets to Jets games. Members of city council have to declare gifts over $250, but there is no formal policy that governs whether they can accept free tickets to an event.
City clerk Richard Kachur said he is researching policies in other cities and expects to report back to the mayor in the next month or so.
"I expect to see something come out this fall," Kachur said.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 25, 2012 B2
History
Updated on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at 2:01 PM CDT: Corrects second paragraph to say "six" pairs of season tickets, not four.
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