[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Makarov

Just for the sake of discussion, this will cost taxpayers far more than $45,000:

http://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/politic...trip-1.1643839

It may well be justified on a cost-benefit analysis, but one can't help but wonder why the business travellers couldn't justify paying their own travel costs on their own cost-benefit analysis. A real cynic might even wonder how many of these business travellers are PC party donors/supporters. But again, these are not the sort of decisions that should topple a government. Unfortunately, the Harper government has made an appalling number of bad legislative and policy decisions which justify toppling it.

I eagerly look forward to rerun's thread on Harper's grandiose spending.

from your link:

PMO spokesperson Jason MacDonald said the delegation will include leaders from various communities, including cultural communities, who will participate in meetings and events during the week-long trip. MacDonald told reporters Friday, that he does not yet have a complete list of the others who will be in Harper's entourage.

MacDonald did say that their expenses, the full extent of which are not yet known, will be paid for out of government coffers.

"Typically, when people are invited to fly with the prime minister on a trip like this, as part of the delegation, the government of Canada will cover the costs for the travel," MacDonald said.

MacDonald clarified in a tweet Friday afternoon that travel costs will not be covered for the entire delegation.

“Only 30 or so actually flying on govt plane, rest are paying their own way there,” MacDonald tweeted to CTV’s Don Martin.

30+ people? For a week? That's gotta cost a pretty penny.

Here's a list of some of the invitees:

There are 25 lawyers who are part of the 208-person delegation Middle East delegation Prime Minister Stephen Harper invited along with him on his first visit to Israel this week.

Some of the country’s largest law firms are represented including Torys LLP, Dentons LLP, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP, BLG and Davies Ward, Phillips & Vineberg LLP as well as individuals such as Cailin Rovinescu, president & CEO Air Canada.
Firms

• Aikins, MacAulay & Thorvaldson LLP — Robert Gabor, partner.
• Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP — William C. Kaplan, partner and Edward Perlmutter, partner emeritus.
• Bloomfield & Advocats — Harry Bloomfield, Eldee Foundation.
• Borden Ladner Gervais LLP — Aaron Blumenfeld, partner.
• Davies, Ward, Phillips & Vineberg LLP — Berl Nadler, partner.
• Dentons Canada LLP — Hartley Lefton, lawyer, Sara Lefton, assistant director of student programs; David Spiro, lawyer.
• Filmore Riley LLP — David Kroft, lawyer, CIJA Board member.
• Gauthier & Associates — Jacques Gauthier.
• Green & Spiegel LLP — Evan Green, partner.
• Lavery De Billy LLP — Carl Ravinsky, lawyer.
• McLeod Law LLP — Aaron Bickman, partner; president, Board Jewish National Fund.
• Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP — Stanley Herbert Hartt, counsel. Hartt is a former deputy finance minister, former CEO of Campeau Corp. and was chief of staff to former prime minister Brian Mulroney.
• Pitblado LLP — Howard Morry, partner.
• Reiter-Nemetz — Steven Nemetz, lawyer.
• Torys LLP — Cheryl Reicin, partner.
• Zeifmans LLP — Larry Zeifman, partner.
Individuals

• Don Hutchinson — vice president, general counsel director, Centre for Faith and Public Life, Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
• Judy Kremer, national manager, search & recruitment, Life After Law Inc.
• Martin Morantz, businessman/lawyer.
• Moshe Ronen, vice president/lawyer — World Jewish Congress & Centre for Israel & Jewish affairs.
• Cailin Rovinescu, president & CEO Air Canada.
• Herbert Silber, lawyer.

http://www.canadianlawyermag.com/leg...east-trip.html