OTTAWA — It seems alcohol doesn’t just make lonely singles more attractive to each other. A new briefing note uncovered by Postmedia News indicates it makes Canada more appealing to foreign dignitaries.
The note is a request from Defence Department officials to Defence Minister Peter MacKay for permission to have taxpayers foot the bill for alcoholic beverages to visiting Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak and his staff during a stop in Ottawa last November.
The note says Barak and his entourage would be treated to three breakfasts, three lunches, three dinners and three refreshments. Barak and his wife were also to be given a memento, a bouquet of flowers and several tours, for a total cost of more than $15,000 — of which $6,737.46 was considered “exceptional,” or non-regular, hospitality.
But it was the estimated $850 in alcoholic beverages that needed the most explanation.
“Offering alcoholic beverages is considered to be the minimum acceptable level of hospitality risk,” Defence Department officials wrote. “By not extending what is considered an expected courtesy we risk offending our guests. This could result in making our social engagements less attractive to the officials we are inviting with the aim of strengthening our mutual relationship and for setting the best possible conditions for potential exchanges and/or partnership.”
Beer goggles anyone?
