Prime Minister Mark Carney’s two-day cabinet meeting in Toronto cost taxpayers more than $532,000, records reviewed by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation show. Carney’s cabinet meetings cost thousands of dollars more than recent cabinet retreats hosted by former prime minister Justin Trudeau.

“If you’re spending thousands of dollars more than Trudeau on meetings, you’re spending too much money,” said Franco Terrazzano, CTF Federal Director. “It’s going to be hard for politicians to explain to taxpayers why all of the meeting rooms in Ottawa weren’t good enough.”

Carney’s two-day cabinet meeting was held at the Pan Pacific Toronto in September, according to government records submitted in response to an Order Paper Question. Pan Pacific’s website describes itself as a “luxury hotel.”

The Privy Council Office spent $250,400 on the venue and “hospitality,” $78,700 for audiovisual services, $40,000 for security and $8,073 on shipping. The PCO spent another $38,300 on accommodation, meals and transportation.

The total bill to taxpayers may balloon higher. The PCO noted costs only include expenditures processed as of Sept. 23. “Certain associated travel claims and invoices may still be awaiting submission or receipt,” wrote the PCO.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police spent $29,000 on the cabinet meeting. That only includes expenditures processed as of Sept. 17.

The Translation Bureau charged taxpayers $30,600 for travel expenses, travel time and interpretation services.

Other departments also spent $57,400 for the cabinet meeting. Most of that was for transportation, but some ministers charged taxpayers for meals and accommodation for themselves and their staff.  

Carney’s Toronto cabinet meeting cost more than recent cabinet meetings hosted by Trudeau.

Trudeau’s cabinet retreat to Charlottetown, P.E.I., in August 2023, cost taxpayers $485,196. Even after adjusting for inflation, Trudeau’s cabinet retreat cost about $26,000 less than Carney’s.

The Trudeau government also held a cabinet meeting in Vancouver in 2022. It cost taxpayers $471,070. Even after adjusting for inflation, Trudeau’s cabinet retreat cost about $25,000 less than Carney’s.

“Carney told Canadians he was going to cut waste and he should start by not dropping half a million bucks on meetings,” Terrazzano said. “We need a culture change in Ottawa and that needs to start with the prime minister and ministers respecting taxpayers’ hard-earned money.”