Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Otawa: Premier Kathleen Wynne and three members of her staff will end up crossing the Atlantic four times and flying more than 12,000 kilometers in order to attend both the Paris climate talks and Question Period at Queen’s Park.
Wynne departed for the French capital on Nov. 28 but returned to Toronto on Monday so she could be present for the release of the Auditor General’s annual report and Question Period.
The Premier and her staff will, however, return to Paris on Sunday for the second stage of the Paris climate talks, which will go until Dec. 9.
Though there is an unknown financial cost for Wynne to fly to Paris twice in a little over a week, there will not be an environmental cost as the Province of Ontario has purchased carbon offsets to account for the trip.
In a statement provided to CTV News, a spokesperson for Wynne’s office said it was “important” for the Premier to be present in Toronto for the release of the AG report and the eight votes that took place at Queen’s Park this week.
The spokesperson also noted that the sub-national meetings Wynne will be attending beginning on Monday come about a week after the meetings she attended with other premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“This is not a schedule we control,” the spokesperson said.
Feds spending $650K on summit
While the cost of the Ontario delegation’s trip to the summit has not yet been released, data provided to CTV News suggests that the federal government has budgeted more than $650,000 to send its 300-plus member delegation to France.
Of those funds, about $200,000 is allocated for accommodation, $48,000 for flights, $105,967 for meals and incidentals, and $200,000 for “other” (transport, office and equipment rental, telecommunications, shipping and hospitality).
