What's Happening?
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) spent at least $539,575 on security for Prince Harry during his visits to Canada between 2014 and 2020. This amount was significantly higher than the $334,337 initially reported by the RCMP in 2021. The security costs
for Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, accounted for about 10% of the over $5.2 million spent on protecting more than 100 internationally protected persons visiting Canada during that period. The expenses were revealed following a request by CBC News under Canada's access to information law. The RCMP's spending on Prince Harry's security was the highest among all internationally protected persons, surpassing costs for other notable figures such as former U.S. presidents and their spouses.
Why It's Important?
The high security costs for Prince Harry highlight the financial burden on Canadian taxpayers for protecting internationally protected persons. This expenditure raises questions about the allocation of public funds, especially when the individuals involved are not Canadian officials. The revelation of these costs may prompt discussions on the criteria and justification for such expenses, particularly when the visits are personal rather than official. The disclosure also underscores the challenges faced by the RCMP in balancing transparency with security obligations, as they initially resisted releasing the information.
