I think this info is already out there, but, in case it isn't …
Just had a chance to review a “House Card” prepared in the fall of 2006 for then-Foreign Affairs Minister MacKay but which was released to me under an Access to Information request more than a year later on Dec. 7, 2007. House Cards are 1-2 page briefing notes prepared by departmental staff each day on a 'hot' issue that bureaucrats believe the minister may be forced to talk about in the House of Commons during Question Period or in response to a question from a reporter. These cards relate to evacuation of Canadian citizens from Lebanon during the Israel-Lebanon war of 2006:
- What were the costs for the emergency evacuation of Canadian Citizens from Lebanon in the summer of 2006? From July 16 to August 15,2006, the GoC evacuated 14,982 people from Lebanon. At present, the Department estimates its total cost of the evacuation to be approximately $66 million.
- Additional costs of approximately $10 million were incurred by DND, PSEPC, CIC, CBSA, and the RCMP. The cost per person evacuated is approximately $4,400. The Government was fully aware that there would be significant costs associated with an evacuation effort of this magnitude. However, getting Canadians out of harm's way was a priority and it was the right thing to do. This was a tremendously successful effort accomplished under difficult circumstances. Will there be costs associated with the evacuation of Canadian citizens by other countries?.
- In the spirit of cooperation, 943 Canadians were evacuated by other countries and Canada evacuated 762 indivuduals from 28 countries. No costs are expected following the evacuation of Canadians by other countries nor will Canada charge for the use of available capacity to assist in the evacuation of other nationals.
- The costs to the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada are as follows:
- transportation (air planeslships charter) $57.0 million
- travel public servants 4.3 million
- salaries, wages, overtime 2.3 million
- rental of vehicles and other 0.6 million
- protection services 0.2 million
- health and welfare services 0.2 million
- contracted services 0.2 million
- telecommunications and other services 0.1 million
- Passport Canada expenses 0.1 million
- miscellaneous expenses 0.8 million