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The cost of Premier Kathleen Wynne’s seven town halls across Ontario totalled $209,000, a source told the Toronto Sun.

Andrea Ernesaks, a spokesman for Wynne, confirmed the accuracy of the number when asked about it Sunday.

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“The premier held seven different town halls in all corners of the province to hear directly from voters about their concerns, anxieties and hopes for the future,” Ernesaks said in an e-mail. “There is, of course, a cost associated with conducting these town halls, a venue needs to be rented, a livestream set up and there are, of course, security considerations that need to be met.

“Regardless, we believe it’s important that elected officials, including the premier, be held accountable to the constituents they serve,” she said.

The town halls were not easy for the Wynne as the premier was grilled repeatedly on unemployment, school safety and other difficult issues.

The seventh and last town hall was held in early March, just before Doug Ford was picked as leader of Ontario Progressive Conservatives.

MPPs of all stripes have held town halls to discuss matters of interest to their local communities such as the partial privatization of Hydro One and health care.

Still, Ford has been highly critical of more recent events that Wynne has held to promote her budget, accusing her of campaigning on the taxpayer’s dime.

The Tories have asked Elections Ontario to investigate the matter.