Carney government defends $736K charter flight to Egypt after opposition criticism
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s last-minute trip to Egypt is under fire after taxpayers were hit with a staggering $736,000 bill for a charter flight.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s last-minute trip to Egypt is under fire after taxpayers were hit with a staggering $736,000 bill for a charter flight. The cost was more than three times the cost of using a Royal Canadian Air Force jet.
The government is defending its $736,466 charter flight to transport the prime minister and roughly half a dozen staff to an October summit in Egypt after opposition criticism.
The figures, disclosed Tuesday in a written response to an order paper question, show the government chartered a Bombardier Global 5000 business jet from Chartright Air Group. The Privy Council Office said the total cost stands at $736,466, though final expenses may be higher once all invoices are submitted.
By comparison, the Department of National Defence estimated that using a government-owned Challenger aircraft would have cost $198,800, but no air force plane was available on the required dates.
The revelation sparked sharp exchanges in the House of Commons on Wednesday, with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accusing the government of prioritizing luxury travel while Canadians struggle with inflation and rising food bank use.
“He gave himself an $800,000 privately chartered flight to Egypt, where there were meetings happening in which he had absolutely no role other than a photo op,” Poilievre said during question period, calling the prime minister “the Grinch of the grocery store.”
“Why is it that Canadians need to line up at food banks so that he can go jetting around the world for photo ops?”
Government House leader Steven MacKinnon defended the prime minister’s presence at the Cairo meeting, saying Canadians were “proud” he took part in the discussions.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand also rejected the Conservative criticism, saying the prime minister has played a role in diplomatic efforts surrounding the Israel–Hamas war.
“The prime minister’s work on the world stage with his counterparts to bring an end to the conflict in the Middle East is extremely important,” Anand told MPs. “He is continuing to be engaged on the peace plan in the Middle East.”
I doubt very much that Canadians were proud that Carny went to Egypt basically for nothing. He has cost the Taxpayers many thousands of dollars flying around the world with nothing to show for it. There is no defense that he can come up that would justify such a huge expense. We need an election !
Mr. Carndeau engaged in the peace plan? Netanyahu and Hamess were not there just 30 left wing extremist government reps playing Hollywood with their personal photo crew and their admiring heavily subsidized legacy media. We thought the little trudeau boy was vain but after 200,000 air miles all over the world with his cult, photo crew, legacy media in tow and nothing to show for his had out vained the King of Vanity.