Nov 27, 2009, 11:01 GMT
Britain's Prince Charles' recent visit to Canada cost the country $2.7 million.
The prince and wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall - who spent 11 days visiting four provinces in Canada from November 2 - spent more than $135,000 on hotel rooms for the royals and their staff, $50,000 to design a website specifically for the trip and a staggering $630,000 on the salaries of the royal visit team.
Taxpayers will also have to pay $41,000 for programmes and luggage tags printed for the visit.
The costs have sparked further debate on the possibility of Canada disassociating itself from Britain.
NDP MP Pat Martin told Canada's Toronto Sun newspaper: "This is as good an argument as I have ever heard for a republic of Canada. It's time for us to get rid of the monarchy and grow up.
"Most Canadians tolerate the monarchy so long as it doesn't cost anything, but in this day and age, in these economic times, that's an absurd amount of money for the pleasure of their company."
However, Deirdra McCracken, the director of communications for Heritage Minister James Moore, insisted the visit was "planned with the current economic situation in mind" and that all "cost savings were examined where possible."
Charles' mother, Queen Elizabeth, is due to visit Canada next summer and her visit is likely to be even more costly, with a budget of $1 million already earmarked just for special Canada Day ceremonies.
Pat has called for the visit to be scrapped because of costs.
He said: "In light of the current fiscal situation of this government, with us running the biggest structural deficit in history, a visit from the queen is a cost we just can't bear. We should consider doing this by conference call or e-mail, it would be a lot cheaper."
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