(Ottawa) The Bloc Québécois wants the Auditor General to seriously consider examining the expenses incurred by Governor General Mary Simon after it was revealed that her recent trip to the Middle East was accompanied by an imposing invoice for catering services.
Posted at 6:48 p.m.
The Bloc presented a motion to this effect on Thursday before the public accounts committee. The intent is for a letter to be sent to the Auditor General, Karen Hogan, “strongly recommending that she conduct an investigation into the expenditures and costs incurred by the Governor General of Canada, out of public funds, of her duties as a representative of Canada at home and abroad since her appointment”, can we read in the text submitted.
The motion, presented at the same time as a request already made publicly to subpoena Mr.me Simon, should be debated by committee members next Tuesday.
The Ministry of Defence, which initially indicated that the costs for catering services reached $93,117.89, told The Canadian Press that this amount was revised to $80,367.19 after a more complete compilation of invoices .
“(This) includes three dinners, three lunches, two dinners and various snacks for 29 passengers, in addition to 17 crew members,” said the ministry, which had initially answered the question on the soap opera. a Conservative MP.
These catering services were offered on several flights between March 16 and 24. Trips aboard the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Airbus CC-150 Polaris notably enabled the Governor General to travel to the World Expo held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The Department of Defense’s review of the fees does not change the position of the Bloc, who believe that the new details raise even more questions.
Their parliamentary leader, Alain Therrien, for example, said he wanted to know, when presenting the motion in committee, who were “the guests” of Mr.me Simon and why these expenses were incurred.
“We know that when she goes abroad, it’s not extremely intensive work on her part. We know it, she rather says “cuckoos”, “he said.
As Rideau Hall reported on Wednesday, the Department of Defense has confirmed that Mr.me Simon is not involved in “decisions that may have an impact on catering costs” when she and her team use the Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft.
“While we strive to minimize meal costs at all times, catering services are only available from designated vendors by various airports and local authorities, based on costs set by vendors,” the ministry said. in a written statement, adding that the exchange rate also comes into play.
Regardless of who makes the cost decision, Mr. Therrien maintains that he wants the light to be shed. “The one who has to pay for all this is the Quebec and Canadian taxpayer who is (already) working hard enough. […] We should be respectful to them. »
The Conservative MP behind the order paper question that revealed the existence of the spending, Michael Barrett, had similar criticism during Question Period.
“Canadians are struggling to make ends meet. They see the price of everything skyrocketing […] while liberal representatives make the life of “jet set” around the world”, he launched.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly countered that the Conservatives should refresh their memories of their own past.
“A Stephen Harper delegation took 348 bottles (of alcohol) when it was heading to South Africa in 2013,” she said.
This remark immediately sparked a ruckus between the Conservative and Liberal benches. The Speaker of the House, Anthony Rota, had to raise his voice to call the deputies to order.
The information that so many bottles of wine were consumed can be found in a National Post article, which states that it happened during a visit by former Governor General David Johnston and that the cost amounted to $6621.