The Trudeau government paid $17,800 for the British “Deliverology” guru who came to speak at a cabinet retreat in Alberta last month.

The sole-source contract given Delivery Associates was issued by the Privy Council Office in February “to support the development and implementation of a results and delivery approach tailored to the Canadian context.”

It included travel costs for former senior British public servant Sir Michael Barber and his Delivery Associates colleague Nick Rodriguez.

Sir Michael gave presentations at the Canada School of Public Service, a professional development program for public servants, and met with federal cabinet ministers, according to PCO.

PCO says the contract wasn’t put out to competitive bids because it fell below the $25,000 tendering threshold, and because the firm is “uniquely positioned as a the world’s leading experts on establishing delivery units in Westminster-style parliamentary systems.”

A former adviser to British PM Tony Blair, Sir Michael has become a global political consultant whose “deliverology” method is meant to show governments how to ensure they deliver on their promises.

He has spoken at cabinet retreats in New Brunswick in January and in Kananaskis, Alberta, triggering an outraged fundraising email from the Conservative Party.

“Twice the Liberals have spent the weekend at posh resorts to meet with high priced consultants,” the message from CPC executive director Dustin Van Vugt read.

“The Liberals are learning how to sell their failures to Canadians. On your dime, too: one of these consultants costs at least $8,000 per day!”