Debate on the Nova Scotia legislature Tuesday afternoon took a flip when interim Liberal Chief Derek Mombourquette introduced up a cupboard minister’s latest journey south of the border.
‘The minister frolicked on the Donald Trump inauguration and he spent $3,000 of taxpayers’ {dollars} to do it,” he stated.
Scott Armstrong, Minister of Alternatives and Social Improvement, defended his January journey — saying he was advocating for Nova Scotian jobs amid tariff threats from the USA on the time.
“I used to be proud to do this,” responded Armstrong.
“I used to be engaged on behalf of Nova Scotia and I’m satisfied that we have to do extra of that to precise our views and get extra help as we tackle Donald Trump and his tariffs.”
After query interval, Armstrong instructed reporters though he had a ticket to the inauguration, he wasn’t capable of attend the occasion as soon as it was moved indoors as a result of climate.
He stated he spent most of his time in DC on the Canadian embassy as a substitute.
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“I want I might have gone to the precise inauguration, however the true work was accomplished on the Canadian embassy, the place all of the stakeholders had been. And that’s the essential relationships you possibly can develop,” he stated.
He stated he was capable of safe a ticket by way of pre-existing connections in South Carolina and was working along side the premier’s workplace as a result of they wanted somebody to attend the occasion.
In keeping with an expense report filed by Armstrong, the journey value a complete of $3,288.
NDP Chief Claudia Chender labelled the journey “misguided” and referred to as for extra transparency from the province.
‘The general public deserves to know. Now we have no file of conferences. Now we have no proof of success of these conferences,” she stated.
“And within the absence of that, I believe Nova Scotians are going to have much more questions than solutions about why their taxpayer cash funded this journey.”
Interim Liberal Chief Mombourquette later doubled down, saying if the province needed to ship somebody, it ought to have been a minister with a commerce portfolio.
“Once I came upon $3,000 of taxpayers’ cash was spent and we’re seeing $700-a-night lodge payments, it’s important to ask that query.”
— with a file from The Canadian Press
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