International aid minister opts for swanky hotel favoured by royalty

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International Development Minister Bev Oda points at a donors conference in London, Eng., last year for the GAVI Alliance, a global health organization that works to immunize children in poor countries. It seems only the best will do for International Development Minister Bev Oda, who refused to stay at one five-star hotel in London, England, last year and rebooked at a swanky establishment for more than double the cost. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ben Fisher

OTTAWA - International Development Minister Bev Oda repaid taxpayers Monday for the cost of rejecting one five-star hotel in London, England, and rebooking at a swankier establishment at more than double the rate.

Oda's office revealed the reimbursement about eight hours after The Canadian Press first reported the hefty lodging bills, and three days after the agency began asking questions about the expenses.

Spokesman Justin Broekema said Oda paid the fee difference between the two hotels, the cancellation fee at the first one, plus a glass of pricey orange juice for a total of $1353.81.

He said she didn't break any government spending rules, but didn't want the taxpayer to pick up the tab.

Oda was originally supposed to stay at the Grange St. Paul's Hotel, site of the conference on international immunizations she was attending.

Instead, she had staff rebook her into the posh Savoy overlooking the Thames, an old favourite of royalty and currently owned by Prince Alwaleed of Saudi Arabia.

The switcheroo is reminiscent of a controversial trip six years ago, when Oda rejected a minivan for transportation and opted for a limousine instead. She reimbursed taxpayers for some of those costs after that story made headlines.

Oda had a luxury car and driver in London shuttling her between conference site, her new hotel and beyond, at an average cost of nearly $1,000 a day. There was no indication from her office that any of those travel costs were reimbursed.

The bill for three nights at the Savoy last June set back taxpayers $1,995, or $665 a night. The government still had to pay for a night at the hotel she rejected, costing an additional $287.

"The minister preferred not to stay at the Grange St. Paul's upon our arrival there and we had to pay," says a note on an expense sheet.

An orange juice Oda expensed from the Savoy cost $16.

Opposition MPs criticized the spending during question period Monday.

"For the price she paid for the hotel, we could have vaccinated 140 children living in poor countries. Instead, the minister got a beautiful marble bathroom for herself," said New Democrat MP Eve Peclet.

"Is she going to ... tell us she brought her own sleeping bag with her? While wasting taxpayers dollars, did the minister at least take some shampoo bottles with her?"

Government House Leader Peter Van Loan defended the Conservative government's record on expenses, but did not explain why Oda waited until Monday to pay for last June's spending.

"Our government believes very much that all ministers must respect taxpayer dollars," Van Loan said. "The minister of course has repaid the costs in question."

In last month's budget, the Canadian International Development Agency suffered cuts that rang in this year at $380 million.

A political staffer travelling with Oda stayed at the cheaper hotel, which is no shack — it features views of St. Paul's Cathedral, an enormous glass atrium, four restaurants and five bars.

A chauffeur drove Oda around the city at a cost of $2,850 over three days. On the first day of the conference, the Canadian government paid for the car to be on call for 15 hours. The Savoy is two kilometres from the Grange.

John Alan of John Alan's Car Service said he couldn't recall which kind of car Oda used, but said his cars were in the Mercedes or BMW range.

While in London, Oda represented Canada at a donors conference for the GAVI Alliance, a global health organization that works to immunize children in poor countries. Canada has given $253 million to GAVI since 2001. Microsoft chairman and philanthropist Bill Gates attended the conference, as well as British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Cameron's government announced in 2010 that it would be limiting the use of chauffeur-driven cars by its ministers. Some British ministers will take the tube in traffic-clogged London rather than call up a car, a spokesman said.

The National Citizens' Coalition, formerly led by Stephen Harper, is calling on Oda to resign her post.

Oda has been criticized for champagne tastes in the past.

In 2006, she used limousines to ferry her to and from the Juno Awards ceremony in Halifax, racking up $5,475 in bills. When the expenses were criticized in the House of Commons, she said she had reimbursed the federal treasury $2,200.

A year later, Oda billed taxpayers more than $1,200 for another limousine ride that took her to both a government event and a party activity. The NDP cried foul when those expenses were not spelled out in the government's public disclosures.