Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly responds to a question during a news conference in Ottawa, on Nov. 1.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
Conservatives want Canada’s consul general in New York to return to a Commons committee and take additional questions on the purchase of a $9-million condo as a new residence for the office, pointing to a government report suggesting he expressed concerns about the property.
The request for a new appearance within 21 days by Tom Clark, a former broadcaster appointed consul general in 2023, was made in a motion introduced during a Tuesday hearing at the government operations committee, though it was not voted on. Mr. Clark previously appeared before the committee in mid-September, where he said he had no role in the move to obtain a new residence.
Global Affairs Canada earlier this year acquired the new condo to replace a residence for the consul general that was acquired in 1961. While the government says it is a necessary move to replace an aging asset, the Official Opposition has said the action is unseemly given the cost-of-living challenges facing many Canadians.
Now, Conservatives are seizing on a GAC report from May, 2023, which U.S. Politico obtained and published Tuesday. The report says the consul general took issue with the completion of a kitchen and refurbishment project, and indicated the unit was not fitting for accommodations, as it lacked an ideal floor plan for dinner events for 14 to 16 guests or other living-room-area events of up to 25 guests.
Committee member Stephanie Kusie, a Conservative MP, said there appears to be a contradiction in testimony that warrants Mr. Clark’s return to take questions from MPs and correct the record.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, who appeared before the government operations committee hearing on Tuesday to defend the purchase, did not directly address the suggestions of the Politico report when pressed on the issue.
Consul general had no role in purchase of $9-million New York condo, Commons committee hears
Ms. Joly noted that the purchase of the new condo was important to operations of a consul-general posting aimed at ensuring that Canada has a place in New York, a key diplomatic location. She said that her department has followed all the necessary rules for acquiring the real estate.
“It was an operational decision. It wasn’t a political decision,” she told the committee.
Ms. Joly touted $7-million in savings associated with the plan to acquire a new condo, and said the proper process was followed in securing the new residence and that there’s a need for Canada to invest in its presence in the United States.
“We decided to make a key investment because we know that all countries in the world are in the United States, and particularly in New York.”
Ms. Joly noted that she learned about the bid to buy the condo through the media. She said she did not have to sign off on it because the cost of the new property was less than $10-million.
The minister also listed off residences purchased in New York by other countries, including a $20-million property purchased by Britain in 2019, an $11-million property purchased by New Zealand and a $19-million residence purchased by France.
The federal government has said Canada’s former Manhattan residence was last renovated in 1982 and required significant upgrades that were estimated to cost $2.6-million.
The former official residence is being sold and is now listed for $13-million.
Robin Dubeau, an associate assistant deputy minister at GAC, told the committee the property has been on the market for about 81 days.
Mr. Dubeau said the real-estate agent handling the sale has received about 38 different inquiries, and had eight showings for potential buyers.
“The real estate agent is quite happy with the way the file is unfolding,” Mr. Dubeau said.
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