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OTTAWA – Taxi!

Federal departments and agencies spent nearly $17 million on cab rides in the first seven months of the Liberal government to transport bureaucrats, ministerial officials and even patients, according to new documents tabled in the House of Commons.

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Another $2.1 million went on promotional materials, such as pens, stationery, mugs and stickers, while $37,000 was spent on flowers.

The numbers were released in response to a question from Conservative MP Ben Lobb.

While the documents do not compare spending with previous years, some departments like Global Affairs Canada – which racked up one of the largest taxi bills – said the tab “does not mark a significant change.”

Health Canada had the largest combined cab bill, nearly $7.8 million, although much of that – about $6.7 million – was for “patient travel under the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program.”

The bill for its public servants was $866,046, while $113,277 was spent on non-public servant travel under the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program.