REGINA – The provincial opposition described the government’s response to travel expenses in advance of the premier’s overseas trade missions as “inaccurate” and “inappropriate.”
“This practice of sending high paid travel scouts to sort out the posh details for the Premier, Mr. Speaker, is wrong in any jurisdiction, by any party, or any political stripe,” said NDP leader, Cam Broten in session Tuesday.
Broten said three overseas advanced trips to Asia and India by two government officials, since 2012, has cost tax payers around $60,000.
He added the employees aren’t working on the trade missions, but on things like hotel rooms and VIP lounges for Brad Wall and his entourage.
The deputy minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Kent Campbell, said the staff ensures that when Wall arrives to a country on a trade mission, he can make the best use of his time.
“If you look at a lot of Asian countries, relationships are important,” he added. “You really need to build that trust factor before you can sign a deal. So by actually making a presence there prior, that helps to do that.”
Online reports of ministers or the premier’s travel expenses do not include advance trip costs, but the Minister of Crown Investments, Don McMorris, said it’s something to consider in the future.
“They are travelling into parts of the world and advance teams are trying to make that accommodation as positive and comfortable as possible,” he added. “Are we going there looking for special treatment? Absolutely not. We’re there for business.”
The NDP also questioned the travel documents, released Monday, where two questions employees asked about the Premier’s hotel rooms are blacked out.
Campbell said in such an instance, it would remain private because it’s a personal matter.
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