The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is demanding answers from Minister Lana Popham after documents revealed she billed taxpayers more than $3,600 for a dinner with unnamed film executives at a high-end Victoria restaurant.The April 2023 dinner, held at The Wind Cries Mary while Popham served as minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport, was described in government records as a "working meeting over dinner" with “film representatives from L.A.” However, the government has refused to release the names of the guests, citing confidentiality in response to a freedom of information request..“Normal families are looking for savings while Popham is popping champagne with Hollywood bigwigs,” said Carson Binda, B.C. Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.“Taxpayers deserve to know who we bought $1,000 worth of booze for.”The dinner bill included 19 glasses of “Welcome Bubs” for $190, three bottles of Syrah wine for $285, four bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon for $360, and two bottles of Pinot Gris for $140. A service charge added another $611, and 13 meals totaled $1,105..Binda is calling for transparency from Popham, questioning the value of the dinner to B.C. residents and the lack of accountability.“Taxpayers deserve a clear answer from Popham: who did you take for dinner and what benefit was there for the people of British Columbia?” he said.Premier David Eby has directed ministers to find cost savings in their portfolios, but Binda noted, “Popham couldn’t even find savings by skipping the ninth bottle of wine or the 19 glasses of bubbly.”The minister has yet to comment publicly on the matter.
