Global Affairs Canada admits some costs on nearly $100k in-flight catering tab for GG trip were ‘problematic’

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Global Affairs Canada admitted certain costs on the nearly $100,000 in-flight catering bill for the governor general’s eight-day trip to Dubai in 2020 were “problematic” and is working to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

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“When the costs related to the catering provided on the flights during the Middle East visit were released, our office, like many Canadians and members, was very concerned,” Deputy Secretary to the Office of the Governor General’s Secretary Christine MacIntyre told MPs on the government operations and estimates committee.

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“We have asked our partner departments to convene all offices involved in these flights on an ongoing basis to further identify ways to reduce costs and to maximize efficiencies wherever possible,” she added.

The committee meeting was called after National Post first reported on the lavish dining expenses back in June.

Documents obtained by Conservative MP Michael Barrett showed that a group of 30 travellers, including the governor general, racked up a $93,117.89 catering bill during an eight-day trip to Expo 2020 in Dubai.

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The bill included the “cost of food, non-alcoholic beverages and associated fees, including catering handling and delivery, storage, cleaning and disposal of international waste, airport taxes, administrative fees, security charges, and local taxes,” according to the document.

One week later, the Department of National Defence, which handled the catering on the flight, said it had tabulated all the receipts and the real cost was closer to $80,000 for all 30 travellers for the eight days of flights.

The cost received universal condemnation from MPs of all parties Thursday.

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Liberal MP Anthony Housefather said the tab “doesn’t make any sense,” Bloc Québécois MP Julie Vignola said the average cost for one meal was “the weekly grocery budget for some people” and Conservative MP Gord Johns said it was “shockingly high” and “unacceptable”.

Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus wondered why this trip cost on average $3,000 per person, when another trip for 50 guests had a total tab of just over $50,000 (or just under $1,000 per person).

According to the Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Lt.-Gen. Eric Kenny, sometimes costs will balloon because there is only one possible catering provider in some airports and cities where the governor general’s flights go through.

“In some many cases, it’s only a single catering company that’s available to us and because of that they have a monopoly on costs,” Kenny said.

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“I know it’s a lot of money for the catering,” he later added.

Did the government look at any catering submissions and say, “Oh my God, this is an astronomically high price for this small number of meals,” and try to negotiate the estimate or change the menu, Liberal MP Anthony Housefather asked.

“There is very little, actually really no negotiation in these cases unfortunately. Unless there is more than one caterer available to us, in which case we can then look and see which one is the best value for money,” Kenny responded.

When the costs were first revealed, outrage about the meal tab forced the governor general’s office to state that it “shares the public’s concern” and would reach out to DND and Global Affairs Canada for clarity.

Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez told reporters at the time that the governor general’s office would certainly need to explain the hefty tab.

More to come.

With additional reporting by Bryan Passifiume