(Ottawa) Canada’s consul general in New York will have another opportunity to testify before a House of Commons committee about the new official residence the government recently purchased for $9 million.
Tom Clark has been invited to appear before the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates on September 12, or later this month.
The committee began looking into the real estate deal after conservative members criticized the decision to buy the new executive apartment, located on Billionaires’ Row, south of Central Park in Manhattan.
The Conservatives believe that this official apartment is too opulent and that it is excessive spending by the Liberal government.
The federal government said the former consular apartment in Manhattan was last renovated in 1982 and needed major improvements estimated at $2.6 million.
Global Affairs Canada had initially told the Commons committee that Consul Clark would appear Tuesday. But committee chair Kelly McCauley said department officials followed up over the weekend to say he would not be able to attend after all.
Mme McCauley called the government’s communication “convoluted.”
A spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada said Clark was unavailable to attend Tuesday’s meeting, but did not specify why.
During that meeting, the department informed the committee that Mr. Clark would be available in September. The Conservatives argued that if he did not appear a second time, he should be formally subpoenaed.
Last week, government officials clarified to committee members that Mr Clark was not involved in the purchase of the new official apartment.
Conservatives say the acquisition is yet another example of how the Liberal government is putting “its friends in the elite” ahead of Canadians.
Conservative MP Stephanie Kusie pointed out that under the former Conservative government of Stephen Harper, Canada sold more than 80 diplomatic properties for more than $720 million. “That’s the kind of value Canadians deserve and the Liberals should understand that,” said Ms.me Kusie.
The Liberal government argues that purchasing the new residence will save taxpayers millions of dollars and reduce maintenance costs and property taxes, while supporting the future needs of the consul general in New York.
The former official residence of the consul general in Manhattan is currently valued on the market at 13 million.