OTTAWA — Chartering a last-minute private jet so Prime Minister Mark Carney could attend October’s signing of the Gaza peace plan cost taxpayers $736,466.11.

That’s according to the response to an order paper question filed by Conservative MP Larry Brock seeking costs of the Oct. 13 trip.

When news of the trip first broke, the Prime Minister’s Office told reporters a private jet was chartered to attend the signing in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El Sheikh because no Canadian Forces planes were available.

“With the summit being planned by the United States on an urgent timeline and invitations from the president being made so close to departure, overlapping existing operational needs resulted in the option of a Canadian Armed Forces airbus flight and related crews being unavailable

See Full Page