The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says Global Affairs Canada increased spending on parties, receptions and other hospitality by 53% last year, hitting $15.5 million despite Prime Minister Mark Carney's promises to cut federal spending.Government financial records reviewed by the CTF show Global Affairs hospitality expenses rose from $10.1 million in 2024-25 to $15.5 million in 2025-26.“Prime Minister Mark Carney keeps telling Canadians his government will spend less, but his government’s own numbers show Global Affairs just jacked up hospitality spending 53% in one year,” said CTF Prairie Director Gage Haubrich.“Can anyone in Ottawa say with a straight face that Canadians are getting 53% extra value from government bureaucrats hosting parties and events with our money?”Global Affairs spent $44 million on hospitality over the past four years, according to the CTF.Nearly half of last year's hospitality bill — $7.5 million — was spent outside Canada.The United States accounted for almost $1.3 million, more than any other foreign country. Global Affairs has spent more than $1 million annually on hospitality in the U.S. in each of the past four years.Another $582,700 was spent in Mexico, where events included a “French language and cultural diversity” festival.Global Affairs spent $324,300 in South Korea, with events including a “queer cultural festival” and a French-Canadian cultural arts event, according to government social media posts cited by the CTF.Hospitality expenses in Thailand totalled $178,500.One event was a Canada Day reception hosted by the Canadian embassy for Thai royalty that featured lobster rolls, BeaverTails and a live opera performance, according to a government social media post.“Are Canadian taxpayers really getting value from all this spending, or are bureaucrats just looking for reasons to throw parties and festivals in other countries on our dime?” said Haubrich.“This pattern of big hospitality bills makes it look like they’re looking for ways to blow taxpayers’ money.”.The CTF said Global Affairs also recorded hospitality spending in countries where Canada does not maintain an embassy or consulate.The department spent $12,821 in Libya over four years despite Canada having no embassy or staff in the country and the federal government advising Canadians to avoid all travel there.Another $17,697 was spent in Syria over four years.“There is no office of the Government of Canada” in Syria, according to federal information cited by the CTF. Canada has not maintained a diplomatic presence in the country since closing its Damascus embassy in 2012.Global Affairs also recorded $10,529 in hospitality expenses in Venezuela, where the federal government says there is no Canadian government office.The department did not respond to the CTF's request for an explanation of hospitality expenses in countries without a Canadian diplomatic presence.Records also showed spending in Cuba, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, the Dominican Republic and Fiji.Global Affairs increased hospitality spending in Fiji by 381% last year and in the Dominican Republic by 102%.Combined hospitality expenses in Barbados, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago and Fiji totalled $570,000 over four years.“The government is massively in debt, Canadians are struggling and Carney repeatedly promised to save money so he needs to tell bureaucrats to cut the extravagance overseas,” said Haubrich.The CTF has previously criticized Global Affairs for other overseas expenses..Access to information records obtained by the organization showed the department spent more than $3.3 million on alcohol between January 2019 and May 2024, equivalent to approximately $51,000 per month.The taxpayers group also previously identified $8,800 in federal spending on a German exhibition featuring sex toys and $12,520 for performances in which seniors discussed their sex lives before live audiences.The increase in hospitality expenses comes as the Carney government has directed federal departments to find savings of as much as 15%.“Our government will work relentlessly to cut waste and drive efficiencies,” Carney said ahead of Budget 2025.
