Federal NDP’s Jack Layton

OTTAWA -- They plan to hammer out a strategy at a special retreat next week to make life "more affordable" for ordinary Canadians.

But the NDP is drawing criticism for staging their meeting at a posh resort, east of Ottawa, where most "ordinary Canadians" would not even be able to pay for breakfast.

"We don't think any of the political parties are doing enough around poverty issues and certainly when people are discussing poverty in an environment that is excluding poor people, obviously we'd have concerns about that," said A.J. Withers, an organizer at the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty. "Poor people know the most about poverty and should be included in the discussions."

A hotel official said the New Democrats would get special rates ranging from $215 per night to $305 at the Chateau Montebello for their 30 MPs who meet from Sunday night through Tuesday to plan strategy for the upcoming session of Parliament and the next election.

But party spokesperson Karl Belanger said that the MPs would pay no more than $225 per day, including three meals a day. He said this respected government guidelines and was comparable to what the other parties would spend on their respective caucus retreats.

On its Web site, the Chateau Montebello describes itself as "an exceptional resort, famed for its rugged luxury," in a "stunning red cedar log hotel," where Sunday brunch would cost about $39 per person.

"If I was an ordinary Canadian -- which I suppose I am -- I would certainly expect the NDP to walk the talk," said Adriane Carr, deputy leader of the Green party. "As much as possible, politicians have to be in touch with how average (people) in Canada (are living) their lives. We're all Canadians, and politicians aren't a group apart."

But New Democrats, who have built a reputation fighting to replace tax cuts for large corporations with social spending in areas such as affordable housing and public transit say the criticism has little substance since all political parties traditionally hold retreats in hotels.

"A room at most of the major hotels would not be something that the average Canadian goes out of their way to purchase," said NDP MP Peggy Nash. "The goal of our retreat is actually to retreat -- to be away from the major centres, and to have the time as a caucus to be able to openly debate and discuss our focus on making life more affordable for middle-class families."

She added that the party is drafting new legislation to cap interest rates on credit cards so that they cannot be more than five percentage points above the prime lending rate as part of a plan to stop the growth of personal debt.

"It would require a change to the Bank Act," said Ms. Nash, the NDP critic for industry and consumer affairs. "For Canadian households, there's been a huge jump (in consumer debt) compared with families a generation ago, and personal savings have dropped to about two per cent from 15 to 20 per cent in the 1980s."

But Liberal party Whip Karen Redman said the choice of venue was an embarrassing way to start 2008 for the New Democrats after they ended the last year on a bad note with a series of apologies for controversial comments by MPs and their actions as a party.

"I find it amusing, and certainly I'm sure Canadians don't miss the incongruency of saying that you're going to fight for working-class and middle-class Canadians and go to a posh resort," said Mr. Redman. "We, Liberals, who do work on behalf of all Canadians and certainly look at the disadvantages (faced by) middle-class Canadians, are meeting at the Kitchener Holiday Inn for our caucus."

NDP MP Paul Dewar said this was a "cheap shot" coming from a party that has previously held meetings at the same resort in Montebello.

"Why ... they want to give away corporate tax cuts is more of a concern to me," said Mr. Dewar. "That's what every day people are concerned about because that's what's going to make a difference in their lives."

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Stephen Harper declined to comment on the issue.

"We're all constantly watching out the window in case (Liberal Leader Stephane) Mr. Dion decides to use NATO forces on Parliament Hill," said Harper's spokesperson Dimitri Soudas. "As for your question, you should direct it to the NDP. It's their event."