Hussen spent $93k constituency funds on PR help from foodie firm Munch More Media
Global News
MunchMore Media, which bills itself as a food industry P.R. firm, confirmed owner knew Hussen's former director of policy but said work for York South-Weston MP was unrelated.
Housing Minister Ahmed Hussen used $93,050 in constituency funds for public relations help from a foodie communications firm with a connection to a former senior staffer, public records show.
House of Commons rules permit MPs to use constituency funds for professional communications work, but Hussen is one of just a handful of cabinet ministers who spent a significant amount on public relations contracts over the past three years.
The firm that conducted the work, Munch More Media, advertised itself as a marketing agency specializing in the food industry, working with “food companies, chefs, food bloggers and restaurants to kitchen equipment and hardware.”
Munch More’s website was taken down before Global News approached them with questions about their political work but remained accessible through an internet archive service.
In all, Munch More Media has received $93,050 over 14 contracts from Hussen’s office between July 2020 and September 2022, according to House of Commons expense figures.
The company appears to have a minimal social media presence, with accounts in their name having just one follower on Twitter and 862 on Instagram — with their most recent posts appearing to have been made in 2018.
Of the 20 accounts the Munch More account followed on Instagram as of Wednesday afternoon, 19 were restaurant or food-industry related. The other was Hussen’s official account. By Wednesday night, however, the Instagram profile did not follow any accounts.
Hiba Tariq, listed as the director of Munch More Media Inc., told Global News that she had no personal connection with Hussen prior to doing constituency communications for the Housing, Diversity and Inclusion minister.
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