Tories attack minister over L.A. trip that included spot on U.S. talk show

OTTAWA – Opposition Conservatives say it was out of line for the international trade minister and a staff member to spend nearly $20,000 to stop in Los Angeles on the way back from an APEC summit in the Philippines.

The Tories claim Chrystia Freeland took the November trip solely to appear on “Real Time with Bill Maher,” a popular U.S. trade show.

But a spokesperson for the minister is throwing cold water on those claims, saying Freeland was there for a trade mission and the show was just one stop of many.

Her schedule included meetings with business leaders, sessions on ties between the economies of California and British Columbia and a meeting with California’s state treasurer.

The Tories are also accusing Freeland of double-dipping and charging taxpayers for meals even though she would have had food on her flights.

But the minister’s office says Freeland got stuck in the airport for a day after coming off an overnight flight and bought food as she waited for her flight home.

Freeland made the visit to L.A. on he way back from the APEC summit in the Philippines. Expenses posted online say the total cost for the trip was$13,826.07.

The Conservative total includes the charges made by a staff member who accompanied Freeland on the trip.

Freeland’s spokesperson said the trade mission was one of several Freeland has done.

“The minister is proud to advocate for Canadian businesses with our largest trading, the United States, and has made similar visits to New York, Boston, and Washington, as chair of the cabinet committee on Canada-US relations,” Alex Lawrence said in an email.