Lawyers, judges have grand old time -- on your tax dollars

TORONTO -- Taxpayers footed a bill for almost three-quarters of a million dollars for Crown attorneys and judges to stay at several luxury Muskoka resorts last year as part of their annual professional development.

According to recently released provincial public accounts, last year's three-day meeting of 600 Crown attorneys at Blue Mountain resort cost taxpayers almost $450,000 -- up from $174,000 taxpayers shelled out for a similar meeting two years ago.

Judges and justices of the peace racked up a bill of $246,000 at the posh Muskoka golf resort of Deerhurst last year -- up from $50,000 two years ago.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Greg Crone, spokesman for Attorney General Michael Bryant, said the "long-standing" meetings have been going on since the 1960s and are a rare chance for Crown attorneys and judges to get together to discuss the profession.

The province had a bidding process before deciding on Blue Mountain resort for the annual Crown gathering because it was the most cost-efficient, he added.

The cost of the meeting might have increased over the years because the province has boosted the number of Crown attorneys from 502 to 970, he said.

"The Crowns need training because they have to stay current with the law," Crone said.

But Leeds-Grenville Tory MPP Bob Runciman said the ballooning bills show the lack of respect the Liberals have for public dollars.

Blue Mountain and Deerhurst are luxury holiday resorts that boast extensive 18-hole golf courses, numerous pools, spas and fine dining -- hardly a necessary setting for legal professional development, he said.