Expenses to run Prime Minister Trudeau's office rising.

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Meeshika Sharma
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The cost of running the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Office has risen to the highest level since 2011.

Trudeau's office cost taxpayers $8.3 million in 2016-17, the latest audited figure available and the first full fiscal year of his prime ministership.The $8.3 million — which includes salaries and benefits of political staff, transportation, communications, and professional services — is surpassed by two years during Harper's 2006-15 period in power, that is 2009-10 ($9.7 million) and 2010-11 ($8.9 million).

The level is higher than for any year during Stephen Harper's last term of office, 2011-15, a period when the Conservative government was focused on eliminating the federal deficit.And it's even 20% higher than in 2015-16, a year during which Harper turned over the keys to Trudeau after the Oct. 19, 2015, election. publive-image

Opposition Conservative MP Peter Kent said the latest cost increase is not surprising, "given the Liberals' tendency to spend pretty wildly.… It's in line with actions across the board as a free-spending government."

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Defending the rise,Trudeau spokesperson said it reflects the prime minister's commitment to connecting with Canadians.

Cameron Ahmad, manager of media relations in the PMO said, "Unlike the previous Conservative government, this prime minister and our office have made a commitment to engage heavily and regularly with Canadians, Indigenous peoples, provinces and territories, and stakeholders."

He added, "Current funding levels for the PMO reflect this increased degree of engagement, and account for more domestic travel and meetings with Canadians."

But the Conservatives then and now have defended that higher spending as directly linked to the rollout of the Economic Action Plan (EAP), the massive spending program designed to cushion Canada's economy from the fallout of the global economic meltdown of 2007-08.

The audited costs of running the PMO are contained in the annual Public Accounts of Canada, tabled in Parliament each fall. The document separately accounts for each foreign trip by the prime minister, travel amounts that are not included in the expenses of running the office.

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