Justin Trudeau’s cross-Canada town hall tour cost taxpayers $131K

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s campaign-style cross-country tour to reconnect with Canadians cost taxpayers $131,917.51, according to documents tabled this week in the House of Commons.

In January, Trudeau visited New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta to hold town halls and make casual stops at coffee shops. A cost breakdown shows just under $35,000 was spent on travel and the rest on audio-visual and media equipment.

READ MORE: Trudeau’s cross-Canada tour off to a shaky start

Other costs, such as food, beverages and security, were not included, meaning the total cost was likely higher. The tour was paid for by the taxpayer and not the Liberal Party as it was considered government business.

“It is great to be doing this, which is getting out and chatting with people,” Trudeau said as the tour got underway.

“This, to me, is what politics is all about.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It is great to be doing this, which is getting out and chatting with people," Trudeau said as the tour got underway.</p><p>"This, to me, is what politics is all about."

At the time, opposition MPs called the tour a ploy to gather data on potential supporters and donors to add to the Liberal Party’s database. Anyone who RSVP’d to one of the events with Trudeau had to submit personal information including their name, postal code, and email address.

WATCH: Highlights from Justin Trudeau’s townhall tour stops

1:05 PM Justin Trudeau vents frustration towards pipeline protesters at Winnipeg Town Hall

• PM Justin Trudeau vents frustration towards pipeline protesters at Winnipeg Town Hall
• Young student asks PM Justin Trudeau why his father gave ‘western Canada the middle finger?’
• Trudeau responds to comment he has failing grade on indigenous affairs
• Trudeau Calgary Town Hall: ‘You’re in Alberta now’ anger rises over Trudeau’s comments on Alberta oilsands
• Trudeau defends decision to answer only in French at town hall

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The tour had its hiccups: the prime minister faced pipeline protesters in Winnipeg and a tough pro-oil audience in Calgary.

An Ontario town hall made headlines when Trudeau was confronted by an emotional Ontario woman over the soaring cost of hydro.

WATCH:  Trudeau confronted by a sobbing Ontario woman who said the cost of her hydro bill was now higher than her mortgage

6:29 Sobbing woman confronts Justin Trudeau over the cost of her hydro bill

Trudeau’s decision to speak only French at a Quebec town hall — even while responding to an anglophone woman’s concerns about a lack of English healthcare services in her community — prompted an investigation by the language commissioner. Trudeau later apologized.

Canadians were also skeptical of the tour, with more than half of respondents to an Ipsos poll conducted for Global News agreeing it was a waste of money and meant to distract.

— With a file from the Canadian Press