Cost of Canada's COP28 climate conference attendance, featuring rapper, hits $3M (2024)

Newly released figures have more than doubled what the government spent to attend a high-profile UN climate change summit last year.

And, according to information sourced online, COP28’s Canada pavilion featured a four-minute climate change hip-hop set by Baba Brinkman, a Canadian rapper and playwright known for rapping about science, literature and environmental issues, and is also the son of former federal fisheries minister Joyce Murray.

Article content

Article content

In March, the National Post reported that Canada had spent nearly $1.4 millionto attendthe 28th United Nations climate change conference, commonly known as COP28,that took placein Dubailast year from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.

This week, an order paper question response unearthed by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation contains updated numbers, putting the cost to fly and lodge 182 government-sponsored delegates closer to $3 million.

“Nothing screams fighting climate change like flying around the world burning through jet fuel and millions of tax dollars,”said thefederation’sFranco Terrazzano.

“Here’sa crazy idea: maybe the fedsdon’tneed to spend $3 million flying 182 politicians and bureaucrats to Dubai.”

Canada’s entiredelegation to COP28 amounted to 633 people, according to the original order paper question response.

While previous government statements and documentsweren’t clear on how many of those had their trip covered by the government, the response to this latest order paper question — this time submitted by Conservative MP Dan Mazier — put that number at 182.

Canada’s updated costs to attend COP28 now sit at $3 million — up from the previously reported figure of $1.4 million.

As was the case before, none of these figures arefinal,due to outstanding invoices and claims that have yet to be processed.

Transportation costs jumped from $658,511 in March to $825,466, while accommodation rose from $449,597 to $472,570.

Hospitality costs jumped from just $3,992 to $37,390, and the new invoices also related to establishing COP28’s Canada pavilion, which cost taxpayers $1.3 million and featured daily programming, including talks, seminars and performances.

Article content

Article content

Whileno information was provided on if, or how much, Brinkman was paidfor his performance, Terrazzano confirmed that ATIPswere filedthis week to determine that number.

“We don’t know if taxpayers funded any part of his performance or any expenses, but if taxpayers did, we will find out,” Terrazzano said.

For those who attended COP28 on the government dime, 159 hotel roomswere bookedacross 21 properties.

Most stayed at the Delta Hotels by Marriott inDubai’s Investment Park near the COP28 venues, with 171 nights booked across 40 rooms, totalling $204,022.

Located nearby, Premier Inn hosted 55 booked rooms for 15 nights, costing $195,462.

Airfare to send Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault to COP28 cost taxpayers $13,239.83, with $4,461 spent on accommodation for a 12-night stay at the Investment Park Delta Hotel.

The minister also expensed $2,262.10 in meals and incidentals.

The National Post reached out to Environment and Climate Change Canada for comment.

As well, $641 in gifts were handed out — including a $75 metal tree silhouette gifted to former Japanese environment minister Akihiro Nishimura, and $53 aluminum beaver forVietnam’s environment minister Dang Quoc Khanh, a $35 bottle of ice wine for China’s environment minister Huang Runqiu, and a $119 wooden box for Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates.

Article content

National Post

bpassifiume@postmedia.com

x.com/bryanpassifume

Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddinget at what’s really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers.Sign up here.

Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.

Article content