Trudeau Has Buried Us In Debt
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PM’s $160K plane food bill has taxpayers paying for caviar wishes on meatloaf budget
Canadian Taxpayers Federation says prime minister 'spent more money on airplane food during one trip than the average family will spend on groceries in almost a decade'
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Jul 15, 2026 • Last updated 19 hours ago • 3 minute read
Prime Minister Mark Carney walks along Sparks St. in Ottawa, ON. on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Prime Minister Mark Carney walks along Sparks St. in Ottawa on Friday, May 2, 2025. Photo by Bryan Passifiume /Toronto Sun
OTTAWA — The high-flying spending continues.
New data unearthed this week by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) shows more sky-high spending by Prime Minister Mark Carney aboard CANFORCE ONE, revealing new details about the PM’s $159,800 in-flight catering bill during an international trip last November.
“Carney spent more money on airplane food during one trip than the average family will spend on groceries in almost a decade,” said CTF federal director Franco Terrazzano.
“Carney keeps promising to spend less, but if he isn’t willing to cut back on airplane food, then what will he spend less on?”
Menus included beef tenderloin, chicken chasseur
On Nov. 18, CANFORCE ONE departed Ottawa for a week-long trip to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in South Africa, stopping on the way to attend trade talks in the United Arab Emirates.
Meals on that trip, according to a response to an order paper question tabled in June, cost $159,781.24 — but thanks to invoices and Department of National Defence (DND) paperwork obtained by the CTF, fare for that trip included a choice between Italian sausage and penne pasta in white wine tomato sauce, or chicken chasseur with bacon and mushroom sauce, served with mashed potato and green beans.
Printed on 437 Transport Squadron letterhead, the flight’s lunch menus offered passengers a choice between chicken breast orzo pasta or slow roast cod with tarragon cream sauce.
For the leg from Athens to Abu Dhabi, passengers could choose between chicken stuffed with turkey bacon or Chilean sea bass with steamed veg and roasted sweet potatoes.
Passengers on the flight from Abu Dhabi to Johannesburg enjoyed two meal services — for lunch a choice between grilled beef tenderloin or grilled salmon fillet, and for dinner chicken biryani or penne alfredo with mushrooms and parmesan.
For the leg between South Africa and a stop in the Canary Islands, dinner was a choice between Hawaiian chicken kebab or seared salmon, and a breakfast of either an omelette or french toast.
The flight home to Ottawa on Nov. 24 gave passengers a choice of a chicken dish with mushrooms or lasagna for lunch, and for dinner either beef tenderloin or cheese ravioli.
PM spent over $1 million on in-flight catering in his first year of office
In June, the Toronto Sun reported that the DND spent more than $1 million on in-flight catering for CANFORCE ONE missions during Carney’s first 12 months in office.
While the UAE/South Africa trip was Carney’s second-costliest trip in terms of food, the most expensive was the PM’s January trip to Beijing, Qatar and Davos, Switzerland — which according to DND-provided numbers cost $175,248.48 to feed the flight’s 73 passengers — an average cost of $2,400 per passenger.
“Catering costs are recorded as a total gross amount per flight leg and do not reflect any reimbursements that may have been received afterwards,” read a note attached to June’s OPQ response, adding that costs “remain provisional until full reconciliation of invoices is complete.”
Terrazzano questioned Carney’s promises to cut sky-high government spending in light of these eye-watering catering bills.
“How can the prime minister justify billing taxpayers six figures for airplane food?” Terrazzano said.
“If other politicians and bureaucrats can travel without racking up these outrageous bills then Carney can spend less while flying abroad.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
Government records. TORONTO SUN GRAPHICS
Government records show Mark Carney spent nearly $160,000 on airplane food. TORONTO SUN GRAPHIC
![carney-food[1].jpg](https://forums.canadiancontent.net/data/attachments/33/33361-e43e6484e1a589be0f5eab744dac6ab0.jpg "carney-food[1].jpg")
taxpayer.com
torontosun.com
Canadian Taxpayers Federation says prime minister 'spent more money on airplane food during one trip than the average family will spend on groceries in almost a decade'
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Jul 15, 2026 • Last updated 19 hours ago • 3 minute read
Prime Minister Mark Carney walks along Sparks St. in Ottawa, ON. on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Prime Minister Mark Carney walks along Sparks St. in Ottawa on Friday, May 2, 2025. Photo by Bryan Passifiume /Toronto Sun
OTTAWA — The high-flying spending continues.
New data unearthed this week by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) shows more sky-high spending by Prime Minister Mark Carney aboard CANFORCE ONE, revealing new details about the PM’s $159,800 in-flight catering bill during an international trip last November.
“Carney spent more money on airplane food during one trip than the average family will spend on groceries in almost a decade,” said CTF federal director Franco Terrazzano.
“Carney keeps promising to spend less, but if he isn’t willing to cut back on airplane food, then what will he spend less on?”
Menus included beef tenderloin, chicken chasseur
On Nov. 18, CANFORCE ONE departed Ottawa for a week-long trip to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in South Africa, stopping on the way to attend trade talks in the United Arab Emirates.
Meals on that trip, according to a response to an order paper question tabled in June, cost $159,781.24 — but thanks to invoices and Department of National Defence (DND) paperwork obtained by the CTF, fare for that trip included a choice between Italian sausage and penne pasta in white wine tomato sauce, or chicken chasseur with bacon and mushroom sauce, served with mashed potato and green beans.
Printed on 437 Transport Squadron letterhead, the flight’s lunch menus offered passengers a choice between chicken breast orzo pasta or slow roast cod with tarragon cream sauce.
For the leg from Athens to Abu Dhabi, passengers could choose between chicken stuffed with turkey bacon or Chilean sea bass with steamed veg and roasted sweet potatoes.
Passengers on the flight from Abu Dhabi to Johannesburg enjoyed two meal services — for lunch a choice between grilled beef tenderloin or grilled salmon fillet, and for dinner chicken biryani or penne alfredo with mushrooms and parmesan.
For the leg between South Africa and a stop in the Canary Islands, dinner was a choice between Hawaiian chicken kebab or seared salmon, and a breakfast of either an omelette or french toast.
The flight home to Ottawa on Nov. 24 gave passengers a choice of a chicken dish with mushrooms or lasagna for lunch, and for dinner either beef tenderloin or cheese ravioli.
PM spent over $1 million on in-flight catering in his first year of office
In June, the Toronto Sun reported that the DND spent more than $1 million on in-flight catering for CANFORCE ONE missions during Carney’s first 12 months in office.
While the UAE/South Africa trip was Carney’s second-costliest trip in terms of food, the most expensive was the PM’s January trip to Beijing, Qatar and Davos, Switzerland — which according to DND-provided numbers cost $175,248.48 to feed the flight’s 73 passengers — an average cost of $2,400 per passenger.
“Catering costs are recorded as a total gross amount per flight leg and do not reflect any reimbursements that may have been received afterwards,” read a note attached to June’s OPQ response, adding that costs “remain provisional until full reconciliation of invoices is complete.”
Terrazzano questioned Carney’s promises to cut sky-high government spending in light of these eye-watering catering bills.
“How can the prime minister justify billing taxpayers six figures for airplane food?” Terrazzano said.
“If other politicians and bureaucrats can travel without racking up these outrageous bills then Carney can spend less while flying abroad.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
Government records. TORONTO SUN GRAPHICS
Government records show Mark Carney spent nearly $160,000 on airplane food. TORONTO SUN GRAPHIC
Carney drops $160,000 on airplane food during one trip
Prime Minister Mark Carney and his entourage spent $159,800 on airplane food during a single trip while dining on “chicken chasseur,” Chilean sea bass and “death by chocolate,” according to government records obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
PM’s $160K plane food bill has taxpayers paying for caviar wishes on meatloaf budget
From beef tenderloin to Chilean sea bass, taxpayers shelled out six figures to feed Prime Minister Mark Carney's entourage in the air. More
Willowdale MPP Stan Cho resigns from Doug Ford's cabinet over hotel expenses
Cho said in his resignation letter he has paid back all of the hotel expenses
Author of the article:Jane Stevenson
Published Jul 17, 2026 • Last updated 20 hours ago • 4 minute read
Stan Cho
Stan Cho, Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, speaks during the official opening of the interim location of the Ontario Science Centre at Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Ontario on Monday, June 29, 2026. Photo by Peter Power /POSTMEDIA NETWORK
Ontario Tourism, Culture and Gaming Minister Stan Cho has resigned from Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet over his hotel spending scandal.
In a resignation letter released Friday, Cho said his decision was effective immediately and that he made “a mistake” by claiming accommodation expenses for overnight stays in Toronto despite living within commuting distance of Queen’s Park.
“Looking back now, I made a mistake. I am taking full responsibility, as I do not want to be a distraction from our plan to grow the economy, keep families safe, and build this province,” he wrote.
The revelation by Cho and other Conservative MPPs prompted Premier Ford’s government to announce it would eliminate the long-standing expense rule.
The Premier released his own statement about Cho’s resignation.
“Earlier today, I accepted the resignation of Stan Cho from Cabinet, effective immediately,” wrote Ford.
“He has acknowledged and taken responsibility for his mistake. He will continue to serve the people of Willowdale as their Member of Provincial Parliament.”
At a Friday morning press conference on the Ontario wildfires, Ford reiterated plans to change that hotel expenses rule when asked if he trusted his ministers not to abuse it.
“Again, we’re changing that policy and they know how upset I was,” said Ford. “And we’re going to move forward and there has to be accountability and we don’t operate that way. That’s not in our DNA, so again we’re moving forward here and paying back every single penny.”
Still, Ford was asked if the 11 other MPPS who had also claimed hotel expenses, including his nephew Michael Ford, should also resign from Cabinet or face other penalties.
“It’s unacceptable,” said the premier. “It’s not how we operate. We have to be prudent fiscal managers. Stan did the right thing and he handed in his resignation from the cabinet. I’ve been clear to our entire caucus, it’s unacceptable and we’re not going to tolerate it.”
Ford said Attorney General Doug Downey will be taking on Cho’s and retiring MPP Neil Lumsden’s Cabinet responsibilities on an interim basis.
Lumsden is the Sports Minister.
In his retirement letter, Lumsden said: “To the people of Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, thank you for the trust you placed in me. Representing you has been the honour of a lifetime, and I retire with tremendous optimism for the future of our community and our province under the leadership of Premier Ford.”
Said Ford in his statement: “I also want to acknowledge Neil Lumsden’s announcement that he will be retiring from Cabinet and the provincial legislature effective August 4. Neil has been a dedicated public servant with a storied career during his time in the CFL, as a minister and as the MPP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek. In particular, I want to thank Neil for his work supporting Toronto’s successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup. Ontario is lucky to have benefited from his leadership. I wish Neil and his family all the very best in his retirement.”
Ontario government current expense rules say MPPs who live more than 50 kilometres away from Queen’s Park are allowed to bill taxpayers for a residence in or around Toronto so they can be closer to the legislature, where most of their work is done.
MPPs who live within that 50-kilometre boundary, however, are only allowed to claim accommodation costs for special circumstances and only overnight.
Cho lived 6 km from Queen’s Park
Cho only lived six kilometres, or seven subway stops, from Queen’s Park but had billed more than $16,000 for hotel stays downtown over the past three years.
Cho said in his own statement that he had paid back the hotel stays and accepted that claiming them was a mistake.
“I have a young family at home and a schedule that too often kept me from them. On late nights, I made a choice that was easier for me. I did not stop to ask how it would look to a person in my riding working a double shift.”
In his statement, Cho said while his spending was within the rules, it was still a mistake.
“Over the past three years, I claimed accommodation in the city on nights the legislature sat late,” he wrote. “I have reviewed every one of those claims and am satisfied they met the criteria set out in the members’ guide.”
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles says Cho resigning from cabinet and replaying the $16,000 doesn’t go far enough in her mind.
“I don’t think it’s enough,” she told reporters Friday. “I think we need answers. If they thought that was going to sweep things under the carpet, it’s not going to work.”
“The people of Ontario demand answers and I will say as well that (Cho’s) not even the worst offender,” Stiles added. “They had other ministers and MPPs in that government who even spent more. So I will keep calling for them to not just refund the money but to provide answers to the people of Ontario.”
torontosun.com
Cho said in his resignation letter he has paid back all of the hotel expenses
Author of the article:Jane Stevenson
Published Jul 17, 2026 • Last updated 20 hours ago • 4 minute read
Stan Cho
Stan Cho, Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, speaks during the official opening of the interim location of the Ontario Science Centre at Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Ontario on Monday, June 29, 2026. Photo by Peter Power /POSTMEDIA NETWORK
Ontario Tourism, Culture and Gaming Minister Stan Cho has resigned from Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet over his hotel spending scandal.
In a resignation letter released Friday, Cho said his decision was effective immediately and that he made “a mistake” by claiming accommodation expenses for overnight stays in Toronto despite living within commuting distance of Queen’s Park.
“Looking back now, I made a mistake. I am taking full responsibility, as I do not want to be a distraction from our plan to grow the economy, keep families safe, and build this province,” he wrote.
The revelation by Cho and other Conservative MPPs prompted Premier Ford’s government to announce it would eliminate the long-standing expense rule.
The Premier released his own statement about Cho’s resignation.
“Earlier today, I accepted the resignation of Stan Cho from Cabinet, effective immediately,” wrote Ford.
“He has acknowledged and taken responsibility for his mistake. He will continue to serve the people of Willowdale as their Member of Provincial Parliament.”
At a Friday morning press conference on the Ontario wildfires, Ford reiterated plans to change that hotel expenses rule when asked if he trusted his ministers not to abuse it.
“Again, we’re changing that policy and they know how upset I was,” said Ford. “And we’re going to move forward and there has to be accountability and we don’t operate that way. That’s not in our DNA, so again we’re moving forward here and paying back every single penny.”
Still, Ford was asked if the 11 other MPPS who had also claimed hotel expenses, including his nephew Michael Ford, should also resign from Cabinet or face other penalties.
“It’s unacceptable,” said the premier. “It’s not how we operate. We have to be prudent fiscal managers. Stan did the right thing and he handed in his resignation from the cabinet. I’ve been clear to our entire caucus, it’s unacceptable and we’re not going to tolerate it.”
Ford said Attorney General Doug Downey will be taking on Cho’s and retiring MPP Neil Lumsden’s Cabinet responsibilities on an interim basis.
Lumsden is the Sports Minister.
In his retirement letter, Lumsden said: “To the people of Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, thank you for the trust you placed in me. Representing you has been the honour of a lifetime, and I retire with tremendous optimism for the future of our community and our province under the leadership of Premier Ford.”
Said Ford in his statement: “I also want to acknowledge Neil Lumsden’s announcement that he will be retiring from Cabinet and the provincial legislature effective August 4. Neil has been a dedicated public servant with a storied career during his time in the CFL, as a minister and as the MPP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek. In particular, I want to thank Neil for his work supporting Toronto’s successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup. Ontario is lucky to have benefited from his leadership. I wish Neil and his family all the very best in his retirement.”
Ontario government current expense rules say MPPs who live more than 50 kilometres away from Queen’s Park are allowed to bill taxpayers for a residence in or around Toronto so they can be closer to the legislature, where most of their work is done.
MPPs who live within that 50-kilometre boundary, however, are only allowed to claim accommodation costs for special circumstances and only overnight.
Cho lived 6 km from Queen’s Park
Cho only lived six kilometres, or seven subway stops, from Queen’s Park but had billed more than $16,000 for hotel stays downtown over the past three years.
Cho said in his own statement that he had paid back the hotel stays and accepted that claiming them was a mistake.
“I have a young family at home and a schedule that too often kept me from them. On late nights, I made a choice that was easier for me. I did not stop to ask how it would look to a person in my riding working a double shift.”
In his statement, Cho said while his spending was within the rules, it was still a mistake.
“Over the past three years, I claimed accommodation in the city on nights the legislature sat late,” he wrote. “I have reviewed every one of those claims and am satisfied they met the criteria set out in the members’ guide.”
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles says Cho resigning from cabinet and replaying the $16,000 doesn’t go far enough in her mind.
“I don’t think it’s enough,” she told reporters Friday. “I think we need answers. If they thought that was going to sweep things under the carpet, it’s not going to work.”
“The people of Ontario demand answers and I will say as well that (Cho’s) not even the worst offender,” Stiles added. “They had other ministers and MPPs in that government who even spent more. So I will keep calling for them to not just refund the money but to provide answers to the people of Ontario.”
Willowdale MPP Stan Cho resigns from Doug Ford's cabinet over hotel expenses
Ontario Tourism, Culture and Gaming Minister Stan Cho has resigned from Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet over his hotel spending scandal. Read on