As a parliamentary committee probed the Governor General's office for excessive spending, Adrienne Clarkson threw a lavish dinner bash for a departing employee, Sun Media has learned. The February party included 38 guests who assembled at Rideau Hall for the taxpayer-financed farewell. The employee had served as the GG's executive assistant for over four years and was moving to another job with the federal government. The revelation came after a complaint was received in the Calgary constituency office of Independent MP Joe Clark. The complainant claimed tax dollars were used for food, alcohol and transportation costs for out-of-town guests. Clarkson spokesman Randy Mylyk denied suggestions that Rideau Hall paid for accommodation or transportation but confirmed the special dinner was attended by 38 people at taxpayer expense. He couldn't say if large receptions for departing employees was a common practice. "It would vary throughout Rideau Hall history depending on the employee, the length and the relationship with their Excellency," he said. NDP MP Pat Martin, who plans to demand details and costing for the event through his role on the Commons government operations and estimates committee, said Clarkson was "thumbing her nose" at the MPs probing her excessive spending. "This tells me she just doesn't get it. In the very thick of this controversy over her cavalier spending habits, she hosts a weekend bash for 38 with untold expenses," he said. "She just doesn't see why every person who has ever carried a lunch pail to work is outraged about her spending habits." Bloc Quebecois MP Gilles Perron fumed that Clarkson's "vision of grandeur" makes her believe she's entitled to throw lavish parties at the public's expense. "It's not illegal, but it's immoral to spend taxpayers' money like this," he said. "You've got children going to school without breakfast because they're too poor, then we throw money overboard. Something is wrong somewhere."
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