HALIFAX - Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter is drawing Opposition fire for the cost of his flights during two recent overseas trade missions.
The Liberals question why Dexter paid more than the premiers of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island for round-trip tickets to China during a trade mission of Canadian premiers in September.
Expense claims show Dexter's first-class ticket cost $7,136.
That compares to New Brunswick Premier David Alward, who paid $5,389, and P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz's ticket that cost $3,762.
Dexter says it's government policy that on extended flights of more than nine hours he would fly business class or an "upgraded class," and as head of the China trade mission he needed proper rest to be alert for a heavy schedule of meetings.
Expenses for Dexter's trip to Israel in October 2011 show the premier paid $7,506.03 for his airfare.
Dexter says that cost was the result of changing his flight booking because his departure coincided with the federal shipbuilding announcement in Halifax, which he wanted to attend.
