January 19, 2005

Taxpayers were saddled with a bill of more than $5.3 million for the 19-day trip -- including $42,000 in cellphone bills and $3.2 million in transportation costs for Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson and her travel companions to Russia, Finland and Iceland.

Documents released under Access to Information show the entourage also spent almost $94,000 on hospitality for receptions and another $92,000 on translation services.

"This circumpolar party is over, fumed NDP Pat Martin, (Winnipeg Centre) who plans to table a protest motion at the government operations committee to cut the Governor General's budget by $5.3 million.

"She invited a bunch of interesting people and rather than invite them for dinner, she took them around the world to the tune of $5.3 million," he said.

Martin called for an immediate review of the role, functions and budget of the Governor General and an immediate freeze on international trips.

The circumpolar journey last October, financed primarily by the Foreign Affairs Department and attended by luminaries such as Denys Arcand, Maurice Strong, Romeo Dallaire and Bob Rae, was designed to raise Canada's profile and strengthen diplomatic ties.

GRAHAM DEFENDS TRIP

Yesterday, Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham described the total bill as "substantial, but defended the trip as a sound investment.

"I believe very strongly this trip was a very important part of what we are trying to accomplish," he said from Washington.

Randy Mylyk, a spokesman for Clarkson, said the final tab for the trip was $5.028 million, plus $300,000 for the government Airbus. Initial cost estimates were $4.5 million, but climbed due to high prices associated with travel in remote regions.

"The recommendation was made two years before the trip by the prime minister, he said.

But Conservative MP Peter MacKay said the pricetag is offensive and signals a need for stronger controls over the Governor General's growing budget and spending habits.