The bills for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s official trip to Washington, D.C., in March have been tallied, with the cost for the three-day trip coming in at more than $257,000.
U.S. President Barack Obama rolled out the red carpet for the Trudeaus in the first state dinner for a Canadian prime minister in nearly 20 years.
IN PHOTOS: The Trudeaus’ day in Washington D.C.
The list of costs was released in response to a question tabled in the House by New Democrat MP Pierre-Luc Dusseault. The costs are broken down person-by-person, for transportation, meals and incidentals, and lodging.
The Trudeaus’ and other delegates’ transportation on Canadian government aircraft is estimated at $46,620. Accommodation was provided by the U.S. government for the Trudeaus and some delegates.
WATCH: Full coverage of the U.S. state dinner on March 10
A total of 43 people were part of the official delegation. Expenses for 24 “other participants” are listed in the cost breakdown.
Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion, International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland and the PM’s principal secretary Gerald Butts were among those in Washington.
Trudeau’s three young children, Justin’s mother Margaret, as well as Sophie Gregoire Trudeau’s parents also made the three-day trip. Their expenses are not listed.
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Costs for the RCMP security detail during the trip are not included.
The preliminary cost for the trip to D.C. was pegged at $25,000, but that was before many of the expenses had been figured in.
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair says Canadians “deserve better” than being told a price for the trip which later ballooned to 10 times its original estimate.
“Now they’ve had to admit that contrary to everything they’ve promised, they weren’t transparent, they weren’t honest, they didn’t tell the truth about the cost of the Washington trip,” Mulcair said Tuesday.
The written response along with the cost breakdown says “in the interest of openness and transparency,” other costs not yet determined, some estimated, have been included.
“These costs include such essential services as administrative costs, courier services, gifts, and translation services.”
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“With these costs included, the best estimate of the total cost of the official visit to the United States is $257,219.42.”
It also notes the significance of the relationship between Canada and the U.S., and the opportunities the trip provided.
“During this important visit, the Canadian delegation took important steps to revitalize the Canada-U.S. relationship, and engaged our American counterparts on many files, including: climate change, environment and energy, international security, defence cooperation, the global coalition against ISIL, border cooperation, and trade and commercial relations.”