OTTAWA — Canada spent $9 million last month to buy a luxury condo in Manhattan for the official residence for its consul general in New York but the federal government is refusing to say what is being done with the old property.
Global Affairs Canada was forced to admit it was behind the purchase after some New York real estate gossip reported that the condo deal was done for King Charles himself.
The deed for the property shows it was listed for more than US$6.6 million and was sold last month to “His Majesty the King in right of Canada.”
Pretty funny that the only reason this got out is because we use such an ostentatious phrase to refer to the legal entity of the Crown. It’s pretty mundane if you work in the government, but I can see how a bunch of New York real estate agents would have no idea what that phrase means.
Funny and sad that the Canadian taxpayers are footing the bill for some friend of a friend to have a luxury condo in NYC. These so called leaders are just milking everyone. What a disgrace.
Why does Canada need a consul general in New York City? It’s not capital of any government. It’'s not very far from Canada, so Canadians in need of consular services could probably find someplace more convenient. The whole thing seems like a way to grift the Canadian taxpayers into swanky Manhattan digs for some well-connected asshole.
So, it is not exactly an unexplainable mystery why we would want a consulate there.
$9 million for a country like Canada to have the same diplomatic heft as Nepal and St. Lucia is not exactly breaking the bank. That is not excessively extravagant or expensive real estate in Manhattan and it will certainly appreciate in value substantially over time.
Canada is going to spend $535 billion dollars this year! Let’s talk about how to reduce the $40 billion deficit. I don’t think ditching this condo is going to do it.
And the guy who has that job is not exactly unqualified. I certainly do not have his resume. I doubt he is in it for the free housing.
And are we not reading the article or just ignoring it?
The article says that the purchase will save taxpayers $2 million as it is cheaper to relocate “to a new, smaller, more suitable, and more economical apartment” than it would be to renovate the existing residence.
“smaller” and “more economical apartment” do not sound like the kind of fat cat spending that the other comments here are promising.
I get that some of us cannot afford houses. Being mindlessly outraged about every article that mentions real estate is not going to solve that problem.
There is for sure real waste and corruption going on. Some of it actually matters. When I get mad about it, I would like to be taken seriously. So, I am not going to pile on to this nothing burger.
Do you think he and the consul-general room together?
By the way, the building that he’s moving into is literally part of “Billianare’s Row.” It’s the swankiest of the swanky ultra-tall-and-narrow “every apartment is a penthouse” building built along central park in recent years. I guarantee you there are cheaper places to live in Manhattan.
There’s listings for some pretty intensely expensive properties at 550 Park Avenue. I saw one for over $10M with its own gym. I don’t know - maybe we’re getting a deal out of this. Tough to say with Sask Today putting together such a terrible article.
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Pretty funny that the only reason this got out is because we use such an ostentatious phrase to refer to the legal entity of the Crown. It’s pretty mundane if you work in the government, but I can see how a bunch of New York real estate agents would have no idea what that phrase means.
Funny and sad that the Canadian taxpayers are footing the bill for some friend of a friend to have a luxury condo in NYC. These so called leaders are just milking everyone. What a disgrace.
Why does Canada need a consul general in New York City? It’s not capital of any government. It’'s not very far from Canada, so Canadians in need of consular services could probably find someplace more convenient. The whole thing seems like a way to grift the Canadian taxpayers into swanky Manhattan digs for some well-connected asshole.
Government waste is always something to be concerned. But is this really the best we can dig up to be outraged about?
Half the countries in the world have consulates in New York. For one thing, it is where the freaking United Nations is.
I am too lazy to look for a real list but this will do for a start:
https://www.sacredheart.edu/offices--departments-directory/international--immigration-services/current-students/foreign-embassies-and-us-consulates/
So, it is not exactly an unexplainable mystery why we would want a consulate there.
$9 million for a country like Canada to have the same diplomatic heft as Nepal and St. Lucia is not exactly breaking the bank. That is not excessively extravagant or expensive real estate in Manhattan and it will certainly appreciate in value substantially over time.
Canada is going to spend $535 billion dollars this year! Let’s talk about how to reduce the $40 billion deficit. I don’t think ditching this condo is going to do it.
And the guy who has that job is not exactly unqualified. I certainly do not have his resume. I doubt he is in it for the free housing.
https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/us-eu/new_york-rep.aspx?lang=eng
And are we not reading the article or just ignoring it?
The article says that the purchase will save taxpayers $2 million as it is cheaper to relocate “to a new, smaller, more suitable, and more economical apartment” than it would be to renovate the existing residence.
“smaller” and “more economical apartment” do not sound like the kind of fat cat spending that the other comments here are promising.
I get that some of us cannot afford houses. Being mindlessly outraged about every article that mentions real estate is not going to solve that problem.
There is for sure real waste and corruption going on. Some of it actually matters. When I get mad about it, I would like to be taken seriously. So, I am not going to pile on to this nothing burger.
Separately Canada has an Ambassador to the UN.
Do you think he and the consul-general room together?
By the way, the building that he’s moving into is literally part of “Billianare’s Row.” It’s the swankiest of the swanky ultra-tall-and-narrow “every apartment is a penthouse” building built along central park in recent years. I guarantee you there are cheaper places to live in Manhattan.
There’s listings for some pretty intensely expensive properties at 550 Park Avenue. I saw one for over $10M with its own gym. I don’t know - maybe we’re getting a deal out of this. Tough to say with Sask Today putting together such a terrible article.