The sprucing up of a VIP government jet has drawn criticism from NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair, who says the fresh coat of blue paint is an advertisement for the Conservative Party.

“I don’t think we’ve ever seen a government in Canadian history that’s so readily blurred the lines between government money and party money,” Mulcair told reporters in Ottawa on Friday. “The colours of the plane, the whole detailing, is clearly patterned on the Conservative Party.”

The Department of National Defence says the makeover of the Airbus CC-150 Polaris was part of regularly scheduled maintenance that takes place every six years.

In a statement issued on Friday, the DND said since the VIP plane carries Harper, along with members of the Royal Family, the Governor General and other dignitaries, the $50,000 paint job was warranted.

While once a drab grey colour, the plane now features a fresh red, white and blue coat.

The government says the new design includes Canada's symbols – the flag, the coat of arms and the Royal Canadian Air Force logo -- and builds on Canada's history.

However, Mulcair said the plane’s unveiling was meant to serve as a distraction from the ongoing controversy regarding a $90,000 cheque Harper’s former chief of staff Nigel Wright wrote to Sen. Mike Duffy to cover improperly claimed expenses.

“What’s been happening the last couple of weeks, trying to get (reporters) to concentrate on his upcoming trip to Europe, even feeding you the new colours of his plane and the fact that it cost $50,000. Anything to get you off the other story,” Mulcair said.

Mulcair added that if the NDP forms the government in the 2015 election, he would not be painting the plane orange.

New Democrat Pat Martin poked fun of the jet’s makeover during question period on Friday, likening the paint job to an episode of the MTV show Pimp My Ride.

“I wonder how it feels for grassroots Conservative MPs to be forced to defend using tax dollars to play Pimp My Ride with the prime minister's flying Taj Mahal,” Martin quipped.

Harper will use the plane for his trip to Europe next week where he will advocate for the long-awaited Canada-EU trade deal.