Khan spent $13,000 on Mideast trip
Liberal Leader demands that floor-crossing MP's report be released
Last Updated: Thursday, January 11, 2007 | 7:03 PM MT
CBC News
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Ottawa has released the expenses from new Tory MP Wajid Khan's trip to the Middle East, raising new questions about the value of his report amid calls that it be made public.
After repeated requests, the Department of Foreign Affairs posted a report on its website outlining Khan's expenses on the trip, which he undertook while sitting as a Liberal MP but acting as a special Mideast adviser for Tory Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
The report reveals Khan — who represents the Ontario riding of Mississauga-Streetsville — spent nearly $13,000, including $7,903.91 in air fare, $3,173.20 for hotels and $1,687.19 for meals and incidentals. The mission took him to Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel and Lebanon in September 2006.
Khan — who crossed the floor to join the Tories on Jan. 5 — agreed in the summer of 2006 to act as Harper's adviser. He promised at the time that his report would be available to all political parties, promising it would be "unbiased and freestanding."
But the government has since said it will not release the report, explaining that it would make Khan a pundit and not an adviser.
Critics question value of Khan's report
In Edmonton on Thursday, Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion demanded the government go public with the report, as had been promised.
"On behalf of the Canadian people, we need to know if there is a report, and we need to see it."
'On behalf of the Canadian people, we need to know if there is a report, and we need to see it.'-Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion
Meanwhile, the head of the National Council on Canada-Arab Relations said he could have provided Harper with the same information for a lot less.
"Anybody can get my advice for free. There is no need to charge for it," Mazen Chouaib said.
But he said Harper doesn't want to hear from groups such as his; Chouaib said the prime minister only wants to hear from those who already agree with him.
"They listen to people who fit their own agenda and people who are supportive of the prime minister's position. To me that does not indicate an interest in learning from different perspectives," he said.
Harper has only said that Khan's report is insightful and informative.
He said Thursday that Khan would take a more prominent role in shaping the country's foreign policy.
"Mr. Khan will remain my special adviser for the Middle East and Central Asia and he will also sit on the foreign affairs committee representing the government."
Khan is preparing for a trip to Afghanistan and region — the same locations Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay finished visiting this week.
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