VANCOUVER, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on B.C. Premier David Eby to cut international travel costs in response to government records that show it spent $3,900 hosting a happy hour “drink reception” in the Netherlands.

“It sure looks like a bunch of officials had a good time partying it up with taxpayers’ money, but what value did normal British Columbians get from this $3,900 happy hour bill?” said Carson Binda, CTF B.C. Director. “And why did these politicians and bureaucrats decide to bill B.C. taxpayers another $600 so they could party it up on our dime for another 30 minutes?”

The Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, Trade and Invest British Columbia billed taxpayers $3,900 for a “drink reception – happy hour” at a conference in Amsterdam, according to freedom-of-information records obtained by the CTF. The B.C. government extended the “happy hour” from 1.5 to two hours and billed taxpayers nearly $600 for the extra time, the records show.

The B.C. government hosted 50 people during the happy hour reception, according to invoices from RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre. The total cost was about €2,457, which is $3,900 CAD. That’s about $78 per person.

Then-economic development minister Diana Gibson traveled to Europe between June 8 and 13, 2025. She visited London, Amsterdam and Paris, according to her itinerary. She was accompanied by Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and New Technologies Rick Glumac. 

Excluding the Dutch happy hour, the total budget for the Gibson’s travel was $12,145, according to proactive disclosures. Glumac’s euro-trip budget was $10,269.

“We need a culture change in Victoria because ministers and bureaucrats are blowing money on a happy hour in Holland while taxpayers back home struggle,” Binda said. “Premier David Eby needs to change the rules to protect taxpayers from politicians and bureaucrats who want to use taxpayers’ money to live it up in other countries.”

-30-