Patrick Brown Bills Taxpayers $1,416 To Run In New York City Marathon

According to a travel expense disclosure report posted on his website, Barrie MP Patrick Brown billed the taxpayer $1,416.06 for "air fare", "other transport", and "accommodation" while on a trip to New York City. The declared purpose of the trip, which began on a Saturday (November 2, 2013) and ended on a Monday (November 4, 2013), as stated in the expense report, was to "Meet with United Nations' officials in New York City".

A November 4th tweet from Brown suggests there was another purpose for his trip:

Spent my post marathon Monday morning visiting UN. It was interesting to observe human rights, legal & economic sessions. Now back to Ottawa

 That would be the New York City Marathon, which took place on November 3, 2013.

The United Nations Event Archives confirms that the sessions described in Brown's tweet took place on November 4th ... in Geneva, Switzerland!

United Nations events for November 4, 2013

Which begs the question "Why did Patrick Brown bill the taxpayers for travel to and accommodation in New York City to 'observe' sessions that were taking place in Geneva, Switzerland?"

Another November 4th tweet from Brown suggests another reason for Brown's trip to New York City:

Had nice coffee meeting with my friend @dpfdpf from New Zealand. David is the Kiwi polling King. Always interesting to compare techniques.

 ... but a tweet from Brown's friend reveals that he too was in New York to participate in the marathon:

I just ran the New York Marathon in 4 hours 29 minutes. Hardest thing I have ever done, but also the best! :-)

If Brown's purpose was to "Meet with United Nations' officials", why would he arrange his trip so that his only full day in New York City would be on a Sunday?

The answer seems obvious, the real purpose of Brown's trip was to participate in the New York City Marathon, which took place on that Sunday.