Government calls $9M condo purchase an 'operational decision'
CTV
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly defends the purchase of a $9 million condo for the Consulate General of New York City at a parliamentary committee, as a necessary investment.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly defends the purchase of a $9 million condo for the Consulate General of New York City at a parliamentary committee, as a necessary investment.
For an hour, the Liberal minister pushed back on accusations from Conservative members of the committee who accused the government of wasting taxpayer dollars on a luxury condo located on billionaire's row in Manhattan.
“This was not a political decision, because it was an operational decision, and you had numerous people, officials of mine that came to see you and said that,” Joly said referring to previous testimony at the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates.
In a number of combative exchanges, Conservative MP Michael Barrett accused current Consulate General of New York and former journalist Tom Clark of lying in his previous testimony to the committee where he said he was not involved in the decision to purchase the new residence.
“We know that he personally complained that his taxpayer-funded residence wasn't up to his standards because it didn't have a luxury kitchen or the perfect floor plan,” said Barrett, citing documents obtained by Politico Canada.
A 2023 study from Global Affairs Canada obtained by CTV News shows three months after being appointed, the Consulate General of Canada in New York City informed the organization which manages properties for the department that 550 Park Avenue “is not suitable for representational activities, and it is not suitable as a residence and requires immediate replacement.”
The report notes the current residence is not accessible for occupants and guests with disabilities. "The only accessible route into the building is via a back service alley into a service elevator via a back door entrance," according to the May 2023 document.
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