Grit's wife joins U.K. jaunt on taxpayers "DIME"
By ANNE DAWSON, OTTAWA BUREAU CHIEF Calgary Sun--Jan. 19, 2001
OTTAWA -- Liberal House Leader Don Boudria has taken his wife on a government trip to the U.K. on the taxpayers' dime. Boudria and his wife, Mary Ann, are among five government officials visiting the U.K. Parliament this week to study changes to parliamentary procedure in Britain. Canadian Alliance MP Chuck Strahl, House Leader of the official Opposition, and his wife are also on the trip, but the MP paid for his wife to accompany him, according to his office.
Boudria was unavailable for comment yesterday, but his spokesperson Dominique Lemieux strongly defended her boss's decision to take his wife, saying it's not a holiday for either of them. She said Mary Ann is attending receptions with her husband, including one sponsored by the European Council. "It's a working trip. If you think it's a holiday, join him and you will see how hard he works," said Lemieux. "Ministers are entitled to travel with their wives. "
The Privy Council Office is footing the tab for the trip, but an official was unable to say how much it will cost. |
