THE HIGH COST OF DIPLOMACY

When foreign dignitaries visit on official business, the federal government extends “courtesies” to that VIP. These courtesies vary according to the rank of the VIP. When the Canadian prime minister or ministers travel abroad, our hosts reciprocate.

COSTS TO EXTEND COURTESIES IN 2015 AND 2016

$ 1.38 million to host nine heads of state $ 1.04 million for 10 visits by heads of government $ 267,693 for 35 ministerial delegations $ 140,808 to host 27 “Guests of Government”

TOTAL BILL FOR 2015 $ 1.44 million to host 33 delegations

TOTAL BILL FOR 2016 $ 1.41 million to host 49 delegations

MOST EXPENSIVE VISITS TO HOST IN 2015 AND 2016

$ 491,794.97 April 14-16, 2015 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver

$ 406,590.40 June 26- 29, 2016 Mexican President Enri- que Pena Nieto visits Quebec City, Ottawa, Toronto

$ 277,989 May 26-30, 2015 Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands visit St. John’s, Ottawa, Waterloo, Ont., and Toronto

$ 254,848 May 7- 9, 2015 Philippines President Benigno Aquino visits Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver

$ 246,821 Sept. 21- 24, 2016 Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits Ottawa and Montreal

LEAST EXPENSIVE OFFICIAL VISIT BY VIPS 2015- 2016

$ 420 May 9, 2016 Melinda Gates, co- chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation visit to Ottawa

$ 680 Feb 25, 2015 United Nations Special Envoy for Financing the Health Millenium Development Goals for Malaria Raymond Chambers to Ottawa

$ 1,745.27 May 8, 2016 Ghana Health Minister Alexander Segbefia to Ottawa

$ 2,150.54 May 8, 2016 Togo Health Minister Moustafa Mijiyawa to Ottawa

$ 2,394.93 July 5, 2015 U.S. Vice- president Joe Biden visit to Vancouver