Rona Ambrose, then Labour minister, speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on November 17, 2009.BLAIR GABLE
Somewhere in federal offices, there are two potted plants that cost taxpayers $975 each, a $1,000 doorbell and three rolling blinds worth $1,400.
Embarrassed by these revelations Wednesday, the Harper government insisted the invoices were approved by bureaucrats, not political staff.
"It is clear that some of these expenditures are not justifiable," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said during Question Period, adding that Public Works Canada is reviewing the invoices to ensure taxpayers received value for money.
But the opposition said it was further proof that the Conservatives are poor economic managers and can't be trusted to tame the deficit.
"Instead of paying $1,000 to replace a doorbell, shouldn't the Prime Minister lead by example and cut costs where it really matters?" said Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe during Question Period.
The controversy erupted when Montreal daily La Presse published a series of invoices submitted to the government by SNC-Lavalin, the company that manages and maintains 320 federal buildings across the country.
Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose quickly moved in to contain some of the damage, saying the amounts "are insulting to the average taxpayer."
However, officials at SNC-Lavalin said the controversial expenditures constitute some of their smallest projects for the government, and that all costs are justifiable.
Charlie Rate, executive vice-president at SNC-Lavalin, acknowledged that "$1,000 sounds ridiculous for a doorbell." However, he explained the cost included a voltage transformer and 15 metres of wiring, as well as drywall and a paint job.
"You get up to that number quite quickly," Mr. Rate said. "These are justifiable when you look at the details behind them."
Regarding the two exotic plants, he explained the pots included irrigating systems, and that the total cost included delivery and fertilizing, among other things.
Overall, federal officials insisted that Ottawa's contract with SNC-Lavalin is worthwhile. When the previous Liberal government signed the contract in 2004, it promised annual savings of $50-million a year. The Conservative government has recently extended the contract, which now runs until 2011.
A federal official said that SNC-Lavalin has submitted hundreds of thousands of invoices to the federal government, and that only the most outrageous ones have been made public.
The government also defended costs such as a $1,000 charge to remove and reconnect a light switch, saying it had to abide by provincial rules forcing the payment of four hours of work at overtime rates.
But Liberal MP Marcel Proulx said the work should have been done during regular hours. "It is getting to be an expensive switch. So why not do it in the daytime?"