Alberta premier's Mar-a-Lago visit cost more than $10,000, documents reveal

A clearer picture is emerging of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's visit to Mar-a-Lago to meet then president-elect Donald Trump in January, as a trade war with the United States loomed.

The unexpected trip cost $10,101.87 and included three others — one of whom flew home in business class — according to documents obtained by CBC News through a Freedom of Information request and a routine disclosure stating both who travelled with the premier and the total cost of the visit.

The trip, which Smith announced shortly after the fact on social media, prompted criticism that she was not part of the unified "Team Canada" response to the threat of Trump's tariffs. 

Smith was the only premier who visited Trump's golf club at the time and has previously said they had a "constructive" conversation in which she "emphasized the mutual importance of the U.S.-Canadian energy relationship."

Now, records show Smith visited the Palm Beach, Fla., club from Jan. 10 to 12, joined by chief of staff Rob Anderson, principal secretary Rebecca Polak and James Rajotte, Alberta's senior representative to the United States. 

The cost of flights, hotels, meals and other expenses totalled $10,101.87 for the approximately 48-hour trip. 

Travel was billed at $7,935, and included a one-way flight for Anderson in business class from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to Calgary, connecting through Montreal, that cost $2,848.70. All four stayed at a Marriott during the trip.

The documents, when cross-referenced with the province's publicly accessible travel and expense disclosure table, also show that Smith, Polak and Anderson travelled to Florida from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. 

In a travel policy form that outlined the details of the Florida visit, the proposed mission objective and key initiatives were redacted.

A second mission objective was stated as: "Engage key incoming administration allies and gain insights on international trade, and political/administration/policy changes which may affect Alberta and Canada."

Later in January, on inauguration day, Smith was asked about the trip by CBC News chief correspondent Adrienne Arsenault.

"What I asked the president was, do you want to buy more oil and gas from Canada? And he said yes," Smith said.

CBC News sent a list of questions to the premier's office seeking clarity on the details of the visit.

Sam Blackett, the premier's press secretary, pointed to comments Smith has previously made, including the premier's Jan. 12 social media post about the trip and at a routine committee meeting in March, when she explained she was in Punta Cana on holiday for Anderson's wedding.