Prime Minister Carney's In-Flight Catering Expenses Surpass Half a Million Dollars
Prime Minister Mark Carney's inaugural year in office has been marked by significant expenditures on in-flight catering, totaling over half a million dollars. Data from order paper questions filed in the House of Commons reveals that the Prime Minister's Office billed taxpayers $524,815.04 for meals aboard government aircraft across 28 trips between March 2025 and February 2026.
Stark Comparison to Average Grocery Costs
Franco Terrazzano, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, highlighted the disparity, noting that Carney's catering bills exceed what an average Canadian family spends on groceries in approximately 30 years. With the 2026 Food Price Report estimating annual grocery costs for a family of four at $17,571.79, this spending has ignited criticism amid rising food inflation projected at four to six percent.
Notable Trips and High Costs
The most expensive catering occurred during Carney's visit to the United Arab Emirates and the G20 summit in Johannesburg, where $158,986.43 was spent on food alone. This trip included 55 passengers, such as Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and various staff, but excluded members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery.
Shorter flights also incurred substantial expenses. A two-hour trip to Washington, D.C., in May 2025 cost $21,158 for in-flight catering, while a subsequent October visit billed $16,824.65—nearly 11 times more than the fuel cost for that journey. Other pricey trips included $60,268.31 for a March 2025 visit to the UK, $93,780.18 for the Pope's inaugural mass at the Vatican, and $49,043.37 for the Canada-EU Leaders' Summit in Brussels.
Lack of Transparency and Public Outcry
Requests for details on hotel stays and specific menus were withheld by the RCMP citing security concerns, unlike previous disclosures that revealed extravagant items like beef wellington and $190 fruit platters during Governor General Mary Simon's trips. Conservative Ethics Critic Michael Barrett condemned the expenses, arguing there is no justification for such luxury while Canadians face record food bank usage and high inflation.
Terrazzano emphasized the irony, stating that despite government promises to curb extravagant travel, this spending contradicts fiscal responsibility, especially with national debt exceeding $1 trillion. As the cost-of-living crisis intensifies, these revelations have fueled public anger over perceived government excesses.
