OTTAWA - Hospitality bills for Canada's man in Paris and his embassy spiked in 2008 - a drastic jump compared to other years.
Ambassador Marc Lortie billed $176,741 in hospitality expenses that year while the embassy spent another $319,086.
In fact, hospitality spending has totalled nearly $1 million since 2007, while Lortie's topped $375,839 for the same period.
The ambassador's hospitality expenses more than doubled in 2008 compared to the previous year, from $78,486 to $176,741.
Included in the spending was a Canada Day reception hosted by the ambassador, attended by the 474 people and costing just over $17,100.
There was also a $6,265 plane ticket for Lortie, part of the transportation costs incurred for an official visit by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to Quebec in October 2008.
The ambassador also spent another $6,511 - including flight - to participate in a diplomatic conference Montreal that same month.
And since 2006, the ambassador has spent $14,143 boosting employee morale by holding employee award and recognition receptions and buffets.
A spokeswoman with foreign affairs explained the bills have actually decreased since the Harper government came into power.
She noted the expenditures at the Canadian embassy in Paris totalled $367,000 in 2005.
"This budgetary downward trend has, however, seen annual fluctuations related to special events like Quebec City's 400th anniversary, the French presidency of the council of the European Union, major bilateral visits and high level international meetings," said communications director Melissa Lantsman.
She added the 2009 federal budget placed a spending cap on travel and hospitality expenses, and that saved $56 million in its first year.
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