Canada’s consul-general to New York Tom Clark has been called to appear before a House committee to testify about the government’s $9 million purchase of his official residence.
Clark was set to testify at the Aug. 27 meeting but opted not to appear, saying he was on leave, according to Conservative MP Michael Barrett.
“Clark must have forgotten he works for Canadians. We’ll order him to appear at committee—and remind him,” Barrett, the Conservative ethics critic, said in an X post.
Clark is now required by law to appear before the government operations and estimates committee either on or before Sept. 12.
Global Affairs told The Epoch Times in a statement that Clark was unavailable on the date initially proposed but has “indicated he is happy to attend,” and is working with the committee to find an alternate date.
The committee has been investigating the federal government’s decision to sell its former New York residence that housed its consulate general. It was listed last week at more than $13 million. Ottawa also purchased a $9 million Manhattan condo located in an area of the city known as “Billionaire’s Row.”
Global Affairs Canada has said the new condo is smaller and more suitable, noting that the previous residence did not comply with the 2021 Accessible Canada Act that mandates barrier-free environments.
Stéphane Cousineau, assistant deputy minister of the international platform at Global Affairs Canada, told the committee Aug. 21 the replacement of the building was “carefully planned and executed” and resulted in $7.4 million in savings for Canadians.
Cousineau said the building was first acquired in 1961 and was “extensively used.” He said concerns about the building’s condition were first raised in 2014, and a subsequent report found many of its systems were nearing the end of their life expectancy.
“We’re very proud of this replacement transaction that not only promises substantial one-time savings for Canadians but also avoids the 2.6 million in renovation costs and delivers $115,000 in ongoing annual savings on operational fees,” he said.
Real estate agent Thomas Aabo testified at the Aug. 27 committee meeting that the Canadian government had paid “just below the average” of a standard condo in New York.
He said it was his “professional opinion” that Ottawa had “secured an asset that will serve the country of Canada for years to come, both fiscally and functionally, a savvy investment procured in a well-run process by a diligent team in Ottawa.”
Barrett criticized the government for purchasing the condo, saying that it would “serve one person and duplicate existing space that the Office of Canada’s representative in New York already has,” at a time when Canadians are struggling with mortgages and rent costs.
Barrett also called Clark’s reasoning for not appearing before the committee “disingenuous, at best” and said it raised “all kinds of questions about who the direction came from for Mr. Clark not to appear as he had originally committed to this week.”
Liberal MP Irek Kusmierczyk said that Clark had agreed to appear before the committee, and that the government had chosen “pretty much the lowest price property” for Clark.
