Wasteful spending

International missions are very important in building trade relationships, but sending travel scouts to make sure Brad Wall’s trips are ultra-luxurious is not.

Wall has been sending a pair of travel scouts around the world, two months in advance of his foreign trips. They are not negotiating trade deals or hammering out agreements — they’re there to scope out VIP lounges, interview multiple five-star hotels in each city to see which will offer him the best upgrade, and insist that his favourite drink is waiting in the hotel room when he arrives. They inspect luxury cars, review menus and make note of tourist sites the premier and his entourage may want to visit.

In his May 22 letter, Harold Fast, a member of Wall’s advisory council, correctly writes that face-to-face communication is valuable. But, he incorrectly suggests that’s what Wall’s travel scouts are doing. The government’s own documents prove otherwise.

Whether it’s government staff or elected officials, travelling to negotiate trade deals and solidify partnerships in foreign markets is a good thing. But travel scouts exclusively ensuring Wall has the most posh travel experience possible is not.

Alberta families were outraged when they learned former premier Alison Redford, had one taxpayer-funded travel scout. It’s bizarre that Wall thinks he’s entitled to have two of them.

This is wasteful. Taxpayers’ money should not be spent on such entitled behaviour. Cam Broten, Regina Broten is leader of the NDP official Opposition.