Opposition questions Sask. cabinet minister's transportation tab in Paris

Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP is asking why cabinet minister Dustin Duncan spent $3,500 on a car service while visiting tourist attractions on a recent government trip to Paris.

"I don't know how this minister says 'no' to gas tax relief and then turns around and bills taxpayers for his private tour through Paris," said Opposition critic for SaskPower Aleana Young.

"This is another example of how entitled and out of touch the Sask. Party is."

Duncan recently travelled to Paris to attend the World Nuclear Exhibition from Nov. 28 to 30, to "showcase the province's nuclear capabilities and opportunities on the international stage." Duncan flew to Paris on Nov. 27 and left on Dec. 1.

Duncan is the minister responsible for SaskPower, which is in the process of evaluating a potential small modular nuclear reactor to add to the province's power grid in the next decade.

On Tuesday, the Opposition released invoices showing the bill for five days of a Mercedes car service for Duncan cost 2,347.30 euros, or about $3,500 Cdn.

Young said the travel log showed at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 29, Duncan was picked up at Hôtel des Invalides, the location of the tomb of Napoleon. Young said that according to Duncan's schedule, he should have been touring pavillions at the nuclear expo, an hour's drive from Napoleon's tomb.

Young said the car service also stopped at the Arc de Triomphe.

Duncan travelled with his chief of staff, a vice-president of Crown Investments Corporation and a representative from the province's U.K. office.

According to the bill for the car service, Duncan and his delegation made the trip to the Arc de Triomphe at 10:30 p.m.

Duncan told reporters that was an agreed pickup point following a dinner meeting in Paris.

Opposition Leader Carla Beck raised the car service spending during question period on Tuesday afternoon.

"Does the premier think it's appropriate for the taxpayers to pick up the tab for the minister's sightseeing tour of Paris?"

Moe said that when the NDP was in power it took more trips than the government currently does and defended Duncan's work in Paris.

Duncan said he was "honoured" to attend the expo.

"There was no sightseeing in Paris," Duncan said in the assembly.

Duncan said using a service to reach the expo outside of Paris, the embassy and other engagements was easier than using public transportation or taxis. He said relying on those methods would have increased the amount of days for the trip.

"This was a work trip."

Following question period, Duncan told reporters that he decided to go to the museum that houses Napoleon's tomb when he had a break in his schedule.

"At our own expense, I spent an hour touring the museum, and had lunch there. It was a busy couple of days in Paris with a significant number of meetings, but I did have a break in my schedule and I did go to the museum."

Duncan said an itinerary item showing the tour of the expo pavilions was only a placeholder.

As for using a shuttle, Duncan said it was a "shuttle van" and that it was recommended to avoid Paris's unpredictable public transportation.

He said the delegation flew economy and stayed at a hotel outside of central Paris.

Duncan said the Opposition was setting a "high standard" by expecting that MLAs and officials were not permitted to spend their own money during downtime while on government business.

Young said she had no issue with Duncan attending the conference, but that the expense of the car service was a problem.

"There's Uber, there's public transit, there's walking. Doing the work you are there to do, not hiring a private car service to take you around Paris."