In the House of Commons Monday, the government was taking it from all quarters over reports that the cost of building a fake indoor lake in the downtown Toronto media centre that will be used by the 3,000 or so international journalists coming to cover the G8 and G20 summits later this month will cost $1.9 million.
The lake — Industry Minister Tony Clement says it is more accurately referred to as a “reflecting pool” — is the centrepiece of a Muskoka recreation, something for the journalists who won't be able to travel to the G8 summit meeting site in the heart of the real Muskoka cottage country.
This morning, the Prime Minister's Office writes to say that, in fact, the costs of the lake is actually $57,000 and the cost of erecting and dismantling the 22,000 square feet media centre, which houses the lake, is $1.9 million.
“The Experience Canada space will host over 3,000 media and other guests, and will serve to highlight Canada’s pristine natural beauty, as well as promote leading Canadian businesses and industries,” a PMO spokesman says.