A taxpayers香蕉视频直播� advocacy group is calling on B.C. Minister of Agriculture and Food Lana Popham to explain a $3,600 taxpayer-funded dinner she hosted for 20 guests at a Victoria restaurant last spring.

Documents obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation through a freedom of information request show that, in her former role as minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport, Popham hosted a group of 香蕉视频直播渇ilm reps from L.A.香蕉视频直播� at Victoria香蕉视频直播檚 Wind Cries Mary in April 2024.

香蕉视频直播淣ormal families are looking for savings while Popham is popping champagne with Hollywood bigwigs,香蕉视频直播� said Carson Binda from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. 

According to the receipt, the dinner included several bottles of wine and glasses of sparkling wine totalling more than $1,000, 20 tasting menus costing over $1,700, and a service charge of $611.

The document explained the meeting was meant to 香蕉视频直播渞eiterate香蕉视频直播� B.C.'s commitment to a robust film sector and discuss new and ongoing business opportunities.香蕉视频直播�

However, the names of film executives and other attendees were withheld from the information provided in response to the freedom of information request.

Binda argued the public deserves more transparency.

香蕉视频直播淭axpayers have every right to know who we are spending $3,600 wining-and-dining,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t's really disappointing and concerning that Lana Popham withheld that information.香蕉视频直播�

This news is especially relevant at a time when the province is 香蕉视频直播渄eep in the red,香蕉视频直播� according to Binda. 

香蕉视频直播淲e don't have a whole ton of money going around. For the government to be blowing money on 19 glasses of champagne, three bottles of Syrah, four bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon, two bottles of Pinot Gris, it makes you shake your head wondering how serious they are about saving taxpayers' money.香蕉视频直播�

In his years of advocacy investigating government spending, Binda said it was 香蕉视频直播渦nusual for politicians to be expending so much liquor at one dinner.香蕉视频直播�

He concluded that the onus is now on Popham to prove to the province香蕉视频直播檚 taxpayers the true worth of this dinner.

香蕉视频直播淚t's on Minister Popham to prove to taxpayers that this was a good bang for our buck [and] what tangible results they got from this dinner,香蕉视频直播� said Binda. 香蕉视频直播淚f this was a good return on investment for taxpayers, Popham needs to prove that [and] show us exactly what investment this brought in.香蕉视频直播�

Saanich News reached out to Popham for comment, but her office said she was unavailable due to legislative duties on May 15.