TABLE READ: Questions raised over $258K table for G7 summit

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OTTAWA — Leaders of the world’s superpowers were elbows-down on some pretty pricey hardware in Alberta earlier this month.

Proactive disclosures filed after June’s G7 summit in Kananaskis show the round table world leaders huddled around last weekend cost taxpayers $258,300.

The table, designed and built by Calgary-based furniture maker Möbius Objects, consisted of a beige finish and included a number of surrounding desks for staffers.

According to the disclosure, Möbius Objects was awarded the Global Affairs Canada table tender in a two-bid competition, chosen on Jan. 15 by Public Services and Procurement Canada due to a “highest combined rating of technical merit and price,” with a June 4 delivery date.

Inquiries to Global Affairs Canada by the Toronto Sun went unacknowledged.

The table’s high cost earned a thumbs-down from Franco Terrazzano, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

“Just because you’re hosting politicians from other countries, it doesn’t mean you have a blank cheque to waste taxpayers’ money,” he said.

“Did the government go out of its way to find the most expensive table possible? Did the government shop around at all to find a better buy for taxpayers?”

The table’s high cost raises even bigger questions about how much the summit cost taxpayers, Terrazzano said, adding the CTF has filed numerous access-to-information requests to get that number.

Other definitive G7 costs appearing in proactive disclosures include $796,650 paid to Brampton-based Encore Global Events Canada for “branding,” $39,945 for a sole-source, non-competitive contract to Burlington’s Thrillworks, Inc. entitled “build of the G7 CMS website,” and $99,999.35 to Vancouver’s KIMBO Design to create the summit’s official website.

bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume