People are aghast now that word has gotten out that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's delegation to the Queen's funeral spent $367,000 on luxurious hotel rooms, including a $6,000-a-night suite.
"This Liberal government continues to disappoint hardworking Canadians by wasting taxpayer money," said Tracy Gray, the Conservative MP for Kelowna-Lake Country.
"Canadians are struggling with increasing mortgage payments, 40-year-high inflation and the cost of everything from groceries, to home heating, to gas, going up. How can we expect the Liberals to understand the cost-of-living crisis facing so many Canadians when they can't even rein in their own spending."
Dan Albas, the Conservative MP for Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola also chimed in with an apropos anecdote.
"In the 41st Parliament, the newly elected leader of the Liberal Party (Justin Trudeau) demanded that Bev Oda, a minister in the Harper government resign (which she did) over $16 orange juice," said Albas.
"It is my hope that he (Trudeau) will demonstrate openness and transparency on taxpayer monies spent and similarly hold his own government ministers to the same standard that he held the previous one over travel expenses."
Queen Elizabeth II's funeral was Sept. 19 in London.
But the money the Trudeau delegation spent on hotels didn't come to light until this week when the Toronto Sun received a copy of the bill via an Access to Information demand.
The Sun's story by columnist Brian Lilley was scathing.
"As we all know, Liberals are entitled to their entitlements. What the documents don't show, and what the government has not answered at this point, is who stayed in the ($6,000 a night) River Suite?" asked Lilley.
"While most likely the governor general or the prime minister, at this point, requests for clarification on what amounts to a $30,000 hotel stay have not been answered."
The Canadian delegation stayed at the five-star Corinthia Hotel in central London near Trafalgar Square, which is more expensive than many pricey hotel brands in the British capital such as The Savoy, Claridge's, Sangri-La, The Langham and The Four Seasons.
Some of the Canadian delegation started to arrive at the Corinthia on Sept. 11, three days after the Queen died.
Most others arrived on Sept. 16 for the Queen's funeral on Sept. 19 and checked out on Sept. 20.
The cheapest room at the Corinthia is called a 'Run of the House King', which comes in at 1,560 pounds a night or about $2,418 Canadian.
It looks like up to 31 'Run of King' rooms were booked for various lengths of stay from three nights to eight nights.
But, by far, the most extortionate of the rates was the 4,800 pounds a night for five nights for the 'River Suite.'
That works out to about $6,000 Canadian a night for the suite, or a total of $30,000 for the five nights.
The total bill at the Corinthia was 281,400 pounds, which, with currency exchange, works out to $357,000 Canadian.
As mentioned before, it's not known who stayed in the suite.
Was it Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire?
Or was it Governor General Mary Simon and her husband, Whit Fraser?
Whoever did stayed in what is essentially a sumptuous, 900-square-foot apartment with views of the River Thames, separate bedroom, living room and dining room and attentive butler service.
Technically, as governor general, the Queen's (now the King's) official representative in Canada, it was Simon who led the delegation.
Some of the other members of the delegation included former Governors General Michaelle Jean and David Johnston, former Prime Ministers Kim Campbell, Jean Chretien, Paul Martin and Stephen Harper, Canadian High Commissioner to the UK Ralph Goodale, Clerk of the Privy Council Janice Charette, actress Sandra Oh, Olympic swimmer Mark Tweksbury, Cross of Valour recipient Leslie Arthur Palmer and First Nations leaders RoseAnne Archibald, Natan Obed and Cassidy Caron.
There's no word on how much the Canadian delegation spent on travel, meals and drinks.
The Corinthia is the same hotel where Trudeau was caught on video singing 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen (the band, not the deceased monarch).
Trudeau belted out the hit while musician, Order of Canada recipient and fellow Canadian delegate played the piano in the hotel's lobby.
The song and Canadian delegation gathering was meant to be a tribute to the life of Her Majesty, but it stirred controversy in not just the British press, but media around the world.
Support staff for the delegation stayed at the The Hampton Inn at Stansted Airport and shuttled the hour into central London.
The bill for support staff rooms came in at about $41,000.
US President Joe Biden and his entourage reportedly stayed at Winfield House, the American ambassador's residence in central London, which has 35 bedrooms.
Canada House, the Canadian High Commissioner to the UK's home in central London, doesn't have space for visiting dignitaries.
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